|
|
Part 1
The loft had a small, cramped feel to it and was barely livable enough for three adults and one infant. Stefanie didn't care about space though; all she asked was that the sunlight was kept out. She was in the tiny kitchen, seated on the counter and cleaning the cuts on her arm when Jenny entered with some gauze and bandages.
"Mind telling me what happened?" Jenny asked. "I mean, I didn't think you'd be back so early."
Stefanie sighed. "I would've been here earlier, except I made a little detour," she replied. "But while we're on the subject, I guess you should know that Buffy's fine for now."
"I know," Jenny said softly, explaining how her husband, Rupert (or Giles as Stefanie affectionately referred to him), had called to tell her. "For someone who just learned that her best friend is in a coma and may die, you don't seem too upset."
Stefanie shook her head, remaining silent as she recalled the events of the last few days. It hadn't even been that long ago that she and Buffy had been celebrating their vampire slaying victories and discussing retirement. But that was before Giles, their faithful Watcher and mentor, had deciphered the prophecy that made their future look bleak. And in the past twelve hours, all hell had broken loose.
First, Stefanie had narrowly escaped a fatal attack by her former friend-turned-vampire, Cordelia. When that threat had passed, Steffi had gone to locate Buffy, only she had been to late. Buffy had already taken a severe beating at the hands of some other source and was now hospitalized as a result. To make matters worse, their other fighting partner and Buffy's true love, a benevolent vampire named Angel, was missing-in-action.
And, sadly, the worst of it had yet to happen. According to the last stanza of this prophecy, one of them, either Buffy or Stefanie herself, was destined to die. They still didn't know which, and it appeared it could go either way.
To lighten her mood, Stefanie couldn't help but make jokes. "I was upset But there's nothing like a good fight to help you calm down," she cracked.
"Hence the scrapes?" Jenny guessed. When Stefanie nodded, the other woman said, "So why the need for bandages? I thought vampires could heal just like that."
Stefanie flinched slightly at the reminder of who she was. Being a vampire was no picnic, especially if one still had their soul like she did. However, after nearly forty years, she was getting used to it.
Biting her lip, Stefanie wondered if she should bring up the issue now or wait until Giles returned. But one look into Jenny's concerned eyes made her choose the former. "In a nutshell, I'm sick," Stefanie said.
Hearing a familiar British accent echoing her from behind made Stefanie turn to look at Giles, surprised that he too was back so soon. "In what way?" he added, lines of worry marring his forehead.
Stefanie instantly wished she could take it back. Buffy's condition had done enough to drain Giles physically, and the last thing he needed was to fret over her as well. But the damage had already been done. With a sigh, Stefanie said, "I don't know. I don't have any explanation for what's wrong with me."
Giles considered this a moment, then walked closer. "How long has it been going on? What are some of the signs?" he asked, standing across from her.
Stefanie wiped a stray tear from her eye. She gave it a few moments of thought, then answered, "I suppose the first incident was the morning after you read us that prophecy... Angel and I had just finished a training session, and I was feeling more worn out than usual." She went on to tell him the rest in a rush: her fainting spell at the Bronze, the "allergic" reaction she had to the packs of blood she usually fed on, the failure of her healing abilities tonight.
When she had finished, Giles gazed at her thoughtfully a moment. Finally, he leaned against the counter opposite her, removing his glasses briefly to rub at his eyes. "Well, you've certainly got me puzzled," he admitted. "If I may be blunt, I've never heard of a vampire getting ill before. As a rule, their immune systems are quite extraordinary."
"That's what I thought too," Stefanie said. "And this couldn't have come at a worse time." She hopped off the counter, absently cradling her injured arm. "That's why I was hoping you could research this for me, among other things."
"I'd be happy to," Giles started. "What else besides your disorder did you have in mind?"
Stefanie paused a moment. "When I faced down Cordelia, she gave the name of the vampire king's mistress. It's not much to go on, but it will have to do... So, does 'Tessa' ring any bells?"
"Not offhand," Giles replied. "But, as you said, it will do. I'll see if there's any record of her and vampires connected to her as soon as possible."
"And see if you can find a cure for me. I have a big battle due in the next week, and I don't want to enter it hindered in some way," Stefanie added. With that, she moved to leave when Jenny stepped forward, holding her in place.
"Where did you get this?" Jenny asked, fingering the pendant Stefanie wore around her neck. It was a smoky quartz crystal clasped inside an elaborate silver bird's claw.
The slayer looked down at it with a slight smile. She related how Buffy had given it to her in remembrance of Rhys, Stefanie's first and only love. "It's pretty, don't you think?" she asked Jenny, a sentimental light in her eyes.
Jenny nodded absently. "Very," she agreed, looking slightly disturbed. "But I can't help thinking I've seen this somewhere before."
Stefanie shrugged. "Maybe wherever Buffy bought it from? It would have a way of catching someone's eye," she suggested.
Jenny considered this, then shrugged it off. Here we are talking about life and death, and I'm worried about a necklace," she said with a laugh. "Besides which, you're probably right, Steffi."
As the two women conversed further, Giles went to set up a cot for Stefanie and made sure Ivory, Buffy and Angel's three month old daughter, was sleeping comfortably. Much to his surprise, the infant looked perfectly content in the makeshift crib his wife had constructed.
Noticing that Stefanie had come to stand behind him, Giles said, "Ivory's the only one among us not on the verge of collapse. If only we could be as lucky..."
Stefanie took a step forward, embracing him in much the way a daughter would her father. "Well, we should get some sleep also," she whispered. "After the night's events, we need it." After a pause, Stefanie added, "And hopefully, things will look better in the morning..."