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Out of Africa

by spikeNdru

Genre: Gen; Action/Adventure

Pairings: Xander and Ensemble; no pairings yet.

Rating: PG-13

Timeline: Two years post-Chosen

 

Disclaimers: The characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and 20th Century Fox; they aren't currently using

them so I'm borrowing them for awhile.

 

Chapter   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10  11  12  13  14  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24  25

 

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Chapter Fifteen

Dr. Trevayne tossed her head to settle her long braid down the middle of her back, where it belonged. When she got the emergency call in the middle of the night, she didn't hesitate.

She'd grabbed a pair of jeans and an old sweater and rapidly braided her hair. Anxious to get to her patient, she'd started the braid off-center, and this was perhaps the dozenth time it had fallen over her left shoulder, getting in the way of her work. Sometimes she wondered why she didn't just chop off her waist-length hair and be done with it! She smiled ruefully. Vanity, she supposed—she considered her long, thick hair her best feature. She was aware that upon first glance, a stranger would invariably describe her as a 'handsome woman'. At the age of forty-five, she was comfortable with that description in a way that she hadn't been when she was younger. She stood five feet eight inches tall, weighed ten and a half stone, and had the sturdy build of one used to physical labor. Her strong features had a weathered appearance from all the time she spent outdoors, and she was usually so busy that she forgot to moisturize for days on end.

Dr. Althenea Trevayne was a veterinarian by trade, who specialized in large animals. Still, she would never turn away a neighborhood child with a sick pet. In actuality, that meant that she had two separate practices. She earned her living treating horses, cows, pigs and sheep, and was very good with them. But it was the kittens, puppies, gerbils, turtles, birds, rabbits and even a hedgehog that brought her the very best renumeration—the happy smiles of the children.

She'd been thinking quite a bit about children lately. Maybe it was her biological clock ticking toward its final countdown, and maybe it was her representation of the Mother aspect of the Goddess in coven ceremonies, but there it was. She had always thought there would be plenty of time in the future to make a decision about children, and her life was very full as it was. She had a job she loved, good friends, her work with the coven, and there was always her pro bono work with the children's pets. Her life had been so blessed that it felt like pure greed to want more.

Althenea stood and arched her back in an unsuccessful attempt to stretch her cramped muscles. She had been bent over for hours, turning the foal from its breech presentation, and knew she'd need more than a single stretch to repair the damage. Maybe she could get in a hour of yoga before she was due to open the clinic.

She went to the tap above the water trough and washed her hands. She shook off most of the water, and then reached into the front pocket of her jeans where she'd shoved her watch for safekeeping, and checked the time. Once the foal began to nurse, she could go, but she wanted to be certain that both the mare and foal were recovered before she left.

She patted her patient on the flank and stepped out into the fresh early morning air. The sun was rising, and the first bright rays touched her honey-brown hair and turned the tendrils that escaped her braid to a golden nimbus. The sun highlighted the expression of joy that made her face glow as she watched the foal's first fumbling attempts to nurse. It had been touch and go for a time, but she now knew with certainty that both of her patients were going to make it. She stretched her arms up, feeling the warmth of the sun soak into her tired body, and gave thanks to the Goddess.

Althenea Trevayne may have considered herself a plain woman, but she was wrong. When anyone really looked into her warm, amber-colored eyes and saw her inner spirit, from that moment on, they thought of her as beautiful.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Rupert Giles and Bernard Addison settled back against the cushions padding the wicker chairs, comfortably replete.

“What can you tell me about Quor-Toth, Bernard?” Giles asked.

Bernard rested his hands on the arms of the chair and gazed into the distance. The milky film of cataracts that normally covered his eyes began to thin and disappear. His eyes turned the dark bittersweet-chocolate color of his youth, as they always did when he began to See. It had disconcerted Giles the first time he'd observed this phenomenon, but over the years, he'd gotten used to it. In his day-to-day life, Bernard was nearly blind, retaining the ability to see only shadowy shapes, but his Sight was as clear as ever.

Bernard Addison was nearly 100 years old, and his poor eyesight and arthritis forced him to walk with a cane, but people who weren't aware of his actual age generally guessed he was a quarter-century younger. His sharp mind, dry wit, and the joy he continuously found in life made him appear no more than seventy-five, at most.

Giles felt a pang of guilt as he remembered that appearances could be deceiving, and Bernard was getting on in years. He would visit more often while he could still do so, and perhaps Bernard would enjoy a holiday visit to his own flat when this Quor-Toth business was resolved. It would give Bernard the chance to spend some time with Althenea, whom he adored, and he might also like to visit the new Council Headquarters. Giles could ask Bernard's opinion of the landscaping, and he might even be persuaded to part with clippings from his rosebushes to start the Council gardens.

“The Quor-Toth,” Bernard began. “Also known as Quor'toth, Quortoth or Quar'Toth, depending upon which reference you use. Red sun, hot, dry, barren climate; time moves much more quickly there. One of our Earth days—a twenty-four hour period—is equal to approximately a year in Quor-Toth. Rupert, your people would have been gone for at least 428 years if, as you say, they've been in Quor-Toth for a year and two months. A rescue attempt would appear to be useless.”

“Perhaps not,” Giles replied. “The 'people' in question are two souled vampires and the manifestation of Illyria in a human body.'

“Illyria! An old one? Manifested in our world? Rupert, you do have interesting friends! Give me a minute while I Look for them; I can at least tell you if they're still alive. Or maybe 'viable' would be a better choice of words, as none of them are actually alive, as we understand it.”

Bernard chuckled at his little joke, and then his chocolate-brown eyes began rapidly moving from side to side as he began to search the wasteland that was Quor-Toth.

“Got 'em!” he yelled as he slapped his palm on the wicker arm and caused Giles to nearly leap out of his chair. The peaceful warmth of the day was shattered by Bernard's shout and Giles felt his heart beat faster with excitement.

“But I'm reading four humanoid signatures, not three. Rupert, time is of the essence. Get Althenea to teleport you to Los Angeles right away.”

“You want me to go also?”

“Well, to LA, at least. Your former Watcher, Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, thinks you should go and I concur.”

“Wesley? But . . . isn't he dead?”

“None of us really ever die, Rupert. You should know that. It's true, his mortal body has been cast off, but the spirit cannot be destroyed. Wait . . . I'm Seeing something else. You need to make sure Krevlorneswath of the Deathwok Clan reads all the potential members of your rescue team. And it's very important that he listens to everyone sing before he attempts any readings.”

Giles' brow furrowed with concern. “Do you anticipate some kind of . . . betrayal within the rescue party?”

Bernard laughed. “Actually, no. I get the feeling this particular exercise is more for Krevlorneswath's benefit than yours. But, it is necessary to save a soul and thus very important, and might mean the difference between success or failure of the mission, so don't shirk!” Bernard sighed. “Alas, I don't believe we will get the chance to take that spin in your Triumph today after all, but you owe me a nice long ride at another time.”

“Oh, certainly. It will be my pleasure, Bernard.”

“I can assure you that the pleasure will be mutual, and you can be sure I'll hold you to that promise. Now, much as I enjoy your company, you had better go. Althenea may need time to prepare the teleportation spell.”

“But Mrs. Knightsbridge hasn't returned yet . . .”

Bernard smiled and placed his hand on Giles' arm. “Oh, don't worry about me, Rupert. I'll just sit here, enjoying the lovely weather, and converse with Wesley. He's promised to tell me about the time he got shot by a zombie policeman, his conversation with a talking hamburger, and the annihilation of the Circle of the Black Thorn. It sounds much more entertaining than anything the BBC has to offer, although I do enjoy Doctor Who. Safe trip, Rupert, and come back soon to tell me all about it. Give my love to Althenea.”

Giles gripped Bernard's hand tightly, then rose and started up the flagstone path to the cottage. He was nearly there when Bernard's voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Rupert,” Bernard called. “Janna says to tell you it's time for you to move on. You shouldn't live your life alone.”

Giles' body went cold, despite the warmth of the day, and he hurried to his car. He walled off Bernard's words, putting as many layers of insulation between them and his conscious mind as he could manage. He couldn't think about that now—he had too much to do to prepare for a trip back to California.

~*~*~*~*~*~

It was rapidly becoming one of the Scoobies' more interesting days.

First, Xander had come back from wherever he'd been—his note said only that he was going out for awhile, he'd be back soon and not to worry—all sweaty, relaxed and happy.

And definitely hot! both Willow and Dawn had thought simultaneously.

Sort of graceful and panthery, Willow added.

“What in Gaia's name has he been up to?” she murmured to Dawn, as Xander headed for the shower with a satisfied, cat-who-ate-the-canary smile.

“Haven't a clue, but whatever it was, I could use some of that myself!” Dawn replied. Good god, I never noticed before, but sometimes Xander can be really . . . Spike-like. Or maybe it's a new thing, which would explain why I never noticed before. He just seems so confident and sure of himself sometimes. It's really . . . attractive.

Willow and Dawn stared at each other.

“It's not Friday, is it?” Dawn asked. “Cause things around here are certainly getting Freaky.”

“Ooh! I loved that movie! Lindsay Lohan was great, and Jamie Lee Curtis is definitely underrated as an actress . . . oops! I know what you mean, Dawn, but you made me think of the movie and . . . maybe we could rent the DVD and watch it on the laptop? Or, I could download. . . Shutting up now.”

They were still puzzling over Xander's odd behavior, when Willow and Dawn felt an electrical charge in the air, resembling the feeling one gets right before lightning strikes. Only . . . the charged air was inside the apartment, and outside was a beautiful summer early-evening without a hint of a storm.

Dawn looked questioningly at Willow.

“Incoming!” Willow grinned, grabbed Dawn's arm and pulled her into the kitchen. “Special delivery from Althenea.”

There was a burst of light that caused both women to close their eyes tightly. When they opened them, Giles was standing in the middle of the living room.

Xander came skidding around the corner, dripping wet, clutching a towel in front of him. Shampoo slid down his neck from his un-rinsed hair.

“Merciful Zeus! What the frick was that? Oh. Hi, Giles. I'll just . . .”

Xander backed away into the bathroom where the sound of running water could still be heard.

Dawn cocked an eyebrow. “You sure it's not Friday? 'Cause things just got freakier.”

“Nope. Still Wednesday. Hey, Giles. Good to see you. What's with all the pyrotechnics?”

Giles smoothed back his hair and settled his glasses on his nose. “Althenea added a little something to her normal teleportation spell.” He added dryly, “She didn't want to startle you by having me just suddenly appear.”

All three burst into laughter.

“Oh, good,” Dawn gasped. “'Cause your Zeus-like arrival wasn't startling at all.”

Willow giggled. “Geez, Giles, you certainly know how to make an entrance! That was pretty cool.”

A rinsed-off and hurriedly dressed Xander bounded into the living room. “Hey, Giles. Good to see you. What's up?”

“Quite a bit, actually.”

“O-ka-a-a-y. Official meeting, then. I better make some coffee. Sorry, Giles. We don't have any tea.”

After the disastrous experiment with the chamomile, Xander and Dawn had decided to stick to coffee, Coke, and juice, while shopping. Of course, if Giles was going to be here for awhile, they could always stop at the store later and pick up some tea.

Giles made a dismissive motion with his hand. “Coffee is fine.”

“We'll get you some tea later,” Dawn promised.

Xander grinned, glad that he had thought to buy an extra carafe for the coffee machine when he and Dawn were out. Their ten-cup pot—which translated to four or five mugs in the real world—was more than enough when it had just been he and Dawn. But now that new people kept showing up every day, it just wasn't sufficient.

He poured coffee for the four currently in residence and immediately started a second pot. He wasn't sure how Giles would feel about flavored coffees, so the first pot he made was the Bold Roast. He measured French vanilla into the filter for the second pot. It was Dawn's favorite, so Giles would just have to deal.

Xander felt great. He'd started slowly at the gym, but by the end of his session his muscles remembered all his previous training, and he wasn't nearly as sore as he was afraid he'd be. Maybe he'd ask Connor to go along tomorrow morning. He didn't feel up to sparring with Faith, but Connor seemed pretty cool, and probably wouldn't embarrass him. He was pretty sure Faith would.

Xander carried the coffee into the living room. He was curious to know what had brought Giles here, but before he could ask, raucous noise came from the hall.

“Um . . . probably the people down the hall having a party,” he said. “That's weird, 'cause they're usually pretty quiet.”

The noise got louder. It sounded like . . . Xander frowned as he tried to identify the noise. It sounded familiar. It sounded like . . . country line dancing, with the heel-heel-stomp-slide-skip rhythm. In addition to the fancy footwork, the remainder of the noise was . . . singing?

The heel-heel-stomp-slide-skip noises came closer and the singing noises resolved into discernible words.

We're off to see the wizard—the wonderful Wizard of Oz! If ever there was a wizard that was that was that was that was that was—

“Holy shit!” Dawn exclaimed as she flung open the door and dragged the three—very drunken—missing members of the team into the apartment.

“Yo!” Faith said. She nodded her head at the group and then couldn't seem to stop. “This is Lorne. We brought him home 'cause he was all depress-essed.”

“But he's not depress-ess-essed any more!” Connor said brightly.

Faith actually giggled. “No. 's not. Wanna know why? 'Cause it's . . . Happy Hour!”

“We karped the car—in the place where you keep your car—an' we were walking back. Back here. But we were going frontwards not backwards and—”

“An' we came to a bar that Lorne knows on the way.” She pointed at Connor. “You said 'karped'!” Faith burst into giggles again. “Anyway, we got to this bar an' Lorne wanted to see his frien' who owns it—”

“An' it was Happy Hour!” Connor broke in. “So we had Sea Bree-zus but Faith din't like 'em, so the tarbender brought Faith and me our own pitcher.”

Faith draped her arm over Connor's shoulders and announced, “So Connor an' I had Sex on a Beach!”

Faith and Connor looked at each other and both giggled madly.

Lorne slid down the door he had been leaning against ever since Faith and Connor let go of his arms, until he was sitting on the floor with his back against the door and his legs sticking straight out in front.

Lorne smiled beatifically at the group, attempted to wave at them, fell over on his side and promptly passed out.

Giles grabbed one of the paper napkins from the tray Xander was still holding and frantically began to polish his glasses.

There was a knock at the door and as Faith pulled it open, the edge of the door scooted Lorne further into the room. He mumbled something and turned over on his other side.

Harmony stood outside, her hand raised to knock again. “Hi!” she said. “Some woman called me, and she was a real witch! She said to come over 'cause there was someone here who needed me. Do any of you guys feel helpless—'cause I help the helpless.” She looked around the room. “So . . . is anybody gonna invite me in?”

Willow looked at Dawn and threw her hands in the air in surrender. “Okay. I give. It's officially Friday!”

 

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Continued in  Chapter Sixteen

 

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