Chapter One

Hey everyone~

This story is going to be significantly longer then the previous two, so head's up if you don't like long stories. It's third in the 22 Minutes series, so it won't make as much sense if you haven't read those.

This story will eventually be a crossover with Stargate/West Wing/ and Joan of Arcadia. = ]

The usual disclaimer applies.
~~


“Dawn, what you’re saying is not only unprecedented, it’s irrational. Buffy needs to disappear? She needs to go to Colorado for some reason and stop all contact with us for now and the foreseeable future?” Giles asked, wanting to make sure he’d understood Dawn right.

“Well, yes. But it’s not like that Giles. The battle in Colorado doesn’t especially need her--they’re doing all right on their own. But she’s the most visible of all of us. She’s the one The First will try to find the soonest, and we need to make sure she’s protected.” Dawn attempted to explain.

Xander shook his head. “But Dawnie, we kicked The First’s ass. Why would it come looking for a rematch?” The other scoobies in the library agreed with Xander and nodded, trying to figure out why Dawn wanted to send their most powerful fighter away.

Dawn sighed and took a deep breath. “Guys, just listen to me for the next little while, okay? No interruptions, or anything. I’m telling you this straight for Joan--from her lips to my ears to you guys.” Willow stood up and began to pace, still listening. She had an idea of what Dawnie was going to say and it wasn’t exactly easy to hear.

“The First that we defeated...gosh, three months ago now, was nothing. It was a pimple of nothingness compared to what The First truly can be and is. An ass pimple, because gross, ya know?” Dawn questioned. The others looked slightly shocked, and then their eyes glazed over with disbelief.

“And for right now, The First is stuck in some hell dimension licking its wounds, waiting for all of us to be unprepared to it can come back and kick our asses, instead of losing once more.”

“Oh dear.” Giles intoned, taking copious notes of what Dawn was relaying to the group.

“Near as G-d could tell, and can I say how freaky it is to think that G-d told us this--we have about two years before the pimple is back and angrier then ever. Boil angry. And we don’t want The First to know exactly how powerful we are. So, over the next few weeks and months- the next year pretty much, we all need to disappear. All of us, every single one of us that was in Sunnydale. We can’t let The First know exactly how many new slayer’s there are. We can’t let him know that we’re organized and strong and ready. He has to try and find us, separately, weak.” Dawn explained.

“Because if the original scoobies can’t be bothered to keep in touch with each other, then there’s no way that we can kick his ass.” Willow said, frightened. Dawn agreed.

“So, Joan’s going to give a few more warnings about when its time to leave, and we’re all going to go find a separate fight that needs some help. We’re going to pretend to hate each other, and we’re going to do it well.

“This compound CAN’T exist in our minds. We’re going to have to find a way to block out The First’s mind reading capabilities. We’re going to have to have code-words to say if someone needs to immediately get in touch with another scooby, so we can know if its the actual person or The First.

“There’s an unending amount of work that needs to go into this over the next couple of weeks to make sure that everything that needs to happen will happen.” Dawn sighed and looked back to the pad of paper. She wasn’t sure how to broach the next topic. She wasn’t sure exactly how much more bad news Buffy could take, let alone the rest of the group.

“Buff, you need to get Riley here. You need to get Joan here. You need to get one representative from LA here that none of us is currently familiar with. We need them here yesterday.” Dawn started.

“Giles, I need to talk to you alone. Willow, you need to get started on deleting any and all traces of Buffy from every government file in existence. You need to find out who knows about her, and we need to talk to those people in person to explain that something big is going to go down. Xander--” Dawn paused and looked at her surrogate older brother, “we need to find places for strategical retreats. Hideouts throughout the country and the world that The First won’t be able to know about. We’ll need them fully stocked and locked down, ready for one of us to hide there if The First is pushing too much pressure.”

Andrew was sitting in the corner during all of this, scared out of his mind. He had no clue where he would fit into this battle plan--he’d always been an annoyance at best, and now, to be told that they’d have to separate... “Dawnie, what about me?” He finally asked, overcome with fear.

Dawn sighed and turned towards Andrew. She knew where she’d need him, especially after what was going to happen in LA. The group needed somebody inside the White House to explain anything that came up to anybody who would listen. Unfortunately, it couldn’t be anyone who actually knew how to fight, which left Andrew.

“Andrew,” Dawn began, “you actually need to wait a bit before your assignment becomes clear. I need to talk with Riley, and a couple others. But don’t worry, you’re a big part of the plan.” He nodded.

The rest of the group looked like they had a thousand and one questions that they wanted to ask Dawn, but she couldn’t deal with it right now. Right now she needed to prepare for the fact that her only living family was about to disappear, for up to two years. “That’s it for now. The next part can only happen with help from certain people. Buffy, get those three people here as soon as possible. Actually, I need to talk to you alone about part of that. The rest of you, go do what you need to do. AND” Dawn continued, “No talking about this outside of the designated privacy areas. Don’t need any newbie Slayer hearing something off and deciding to bolt, okay?” She received a handful of nods.

The scoobies stood up and stretched. Ever since Sunnydale, Dawn had become more and more vocal about certain things that needed to happen. Due to her close friendship with Joan, the messages often got passed through her, and the others had long since learned to stop arguing with the slender brunette girl.

Buffy continued to sit, eyes slightly dazed. Willow and Xander stopped by her chair, rubbed her shoulders, but nothing seemed to help. Slowly they left the room to the two sisters, and Giles.

“Wanna talk here, or go for a walk?” Dawn asked quietly. Buffy sighed and shrugged. “Here it is then,” Dawn continued. “Giles, you’re welcome to sit in on this part, or I can hook up with you later.” Dawn commented. Giles stood and walked towards the kitchen. He needed to think before Dawn unleashed the next part of the plan.

“So, what can’t the others know yet?” Buffy asked her younger sister once Giles had left.

“Um. This is going to be hard to hear, Buffy.” Dawn commented, concerned for her older sister. She wasn’t sure how many more blows Buffy could take.

“Tell me, please.” Buffy whispered. “If it’s bad, just tell me quickly, like a band aid. You have to pull them off fast, ya know?”

Dawn stood and crossed to the library doors, pulling them shut and locking them. She checked each window and the trap door as well. What she was about to say couldn’t leave the two of them--otherwise people would know that they were still strong, and The First could find out.

“It’s about LA.” Dawn started to explain. “They’re fighting a major battle right now, or rather, they will be fighting one soon. The First is going to have foot soldiers in this battle, so we can’t be there. NONE of us can be there. Only the fang gang...” Dawn started to explain.

“How big is it? As big as Sunnydale?” Buffy asked, nervous for her former boyfriend. Nervous for Wesley and Fred and a strange man named Gunn whom she’d met once previously.

“Bigger.” Dawn stood silently, looking at the tears that were streaming down her sister’s face. “They’re going to win, but most of the people there aren’t going to make it. You still need to call them and convince one of their members to come down here--maybe Gunn or Wesley. You can’t offer help. You can’t explain why you aren’t offering help. Maybe make it sound like you think Angel is evil again, working with the law firm. You need to stand strong.” Dawn explained. Buffy nodded, silently. Then she reached a hand into her pocket and pulled out the phone.

“You should call, Dawnie. Say that you need someone. It’s an emergency. You aren’t sure where I am and the others are too busy fighting to look for me.”

Dawn nodded. “That’ll support the weakening story. The others in LA can talk about it then, and a foot soldier will probably hear it and report to The First.”

She flipped the cell phone open and quickly scrolled through the numbers, finally pausing on Wesley’s. She hit dial and held the phone to her ear, prepared to sound frantic.

“Hello?” A male voice answered. “Buffy, is that you?” Apparently he had caller i.d.

“Wesley? Oh thank g-d...” Dawn began, frantically. “Is Buffy there? She disappeared a couple of days ago. Please say Buffy’s there. That she had to see Angel. Please!” Dawn begged.

“What? Dawnie? Is that you?” Wesley asked, concern evident in his voice.

“Wesley, I don’t know what to do. The others--they’re just arguing with each other, yelling. That’s all they ever do, anymore. And Buffy said she was going to leave. That she couldn’t stand the sight of us. And now s..s...she’s gone.” Dawn began to cry at this point. Buffy stood in the corner, grimacing at her sister’s overacting.

“Dawn, I don’t know how to tell you this. Buffy isn’t here.” Wesley began.

“She’s not?” Dawn started to break down at this point. “But she has to be! She HAS to be there!”

“Dawn, Dawn. Take a deep breath.” Wesley began to talk her through the panic attack he heard. “In and out, In and out. Do you want Angel to come out there and help you guys look?” Wesley asked, tentatively. He knew that Dawn viewed Angel as an older brother type.

“What? NO!” Dawn shouted. “He’s evil now! Evil!”

“What?” Wesley asked, unsure of what he’d heard. “Angel isn’t evil, Dawn.” He spoke quietly, placating.

“Uh-uh. I heard Faith and Xander talking with Willow. I heard he lost his soul again.” Dawn tried to explain, stifling a smile. “They said you guys just didn’t know. And Andrew said he tried to tell you when he went to get Dana,”

“Angel isn’t evil, Dawnie.” Wesley began, “but if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll come out instead. I can clear my schedule for a bit, fly out later tonight. We’ll figure out what’s going on with your group, okay?”

“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Dawn practically shouted. “Wait--Xander’s calling me. Probably to yell some more. I’ll pick you up at the airport--email me your flight info.” She hung up and smiled mischievously at Buffy.”

“You’re just lucky missy that Wesley doesn’t know what a horrible actress you are.” Buffy calmly stated before holding her palm out for the cell phone. “I’ve got a couple more calls to make. Why don’t you go get lunch?”

Dawn leaned close and hugged her sister. “Don’t worry--we’ll figure something out.”

~~

Riley Finn looked at the phone in his hand in complete shock. Their group was about to ship out, once more, to Russia for a change (group of vamps holing up in the old palace) when Buffy had called. She’d simply asked him to show up in Cleveland, as soon as possible. Hadn’t explained anything. Asked him to leave Sam at home. He set the phone down and went to make plane arrangements. When Buffy spoke, he listened. Instinct.

~~

Joan sighed. She’d have to drive to Cleveland once more, and while she’d come to treasure her friendship with Dawn (finally someone knew exactly what she did and they weren’t scared of her) she still had classes the following morning. Turning to her computer, she scanned her email box for one of her pre-written excuses from class. Finally she settled on the Sinus Infection note with a chuckle. If she mentioned lots of phlegm and a fever she should be set for a couple of days.

~~

Riley looked around the scooby library, in shock. Instead of talking with Buffy, he’d been sent to a room that contained a worried elderly British man, a young girl, and himself. And Dawn. Dawn. He shook his head in disbelief.

“First off,” Dawn started, “Sorry for lying to get you here Wesley. I know it was wrong, it’s just...this is beyond anything else that has ever happened. And you were needed.” She shrugged.

“What exactly is ‘beyond anything else that has ever happened’ Ms. Summers?” Wesley asked, sticking to his proper manners in front of the people he didn’t know.

“Well, the three of you have been selected to run The Compound, starting soon.”

Riley shook his head and began to speak, “Dawn, you know I’d do anything for you guys, especially after Sunnydale, but I’m still with covert ops. I can’t exactly drop out of sight to run a training center for a bunch of slayers.”

“And Dawn, I must go back to LA. There’s a situation there that’s very nearly out of control. I can’t speak of it, but it is possible we will be asking for you to send slayer’s down to help us. We definitely can’t spare anybody to run your project for you.” Wesley shook his head, aghast.

Joan just sat there. G-d had given her a head’s up earlier and she knew that Dawn had the situation well in hand. She still couldn’t figure out why G-d had drafted Dawn as the coordinator of this entire situation, but there had to be a reason.

“No guys. You don’t understand.” Dawn began, pausing momentarily. “You know how Whistler is the voice of the powers? Well, Joan here is the voice of somebody a little more important, and we’re heeding the warnings. Sometime in the next year or so, all of the people in the Sunnydale battle need to disappear.

“All of us need to separate and pretend to hate one-another, to be disgusted with the cause and the aftermath. That’s because in two years or so, The First will be coming back to haunt us in a big way.”

Riley stepped forward, concerned. “Who is The First? I never got the complete story out of Buffy, and it sounds complicated. Complicated and dangerous.”

“It is. One of the other’s will explain later, but for now I just need to get this out, okay?” Dawn explained. “Wesley, I know there’s a battle in LA. I know it’s going to be huge, and that a lot of you might not make it.”

Wesley looked shocked, “that only explains why I need to be there. I need to help them fight.” Wesley stood.

“Not this time, Wesley.” Dawn commented, quietly. “The LA battle is going to be huge. The world is going to find out about demons and monsters. There’s going to be panic, and chaos, and you can’t be there. You’re needed here, for the next battle, the next war.” Wesley looked like he was about to object, but thought better of it. He knew he had to return to LA, he just wasn't sure where the new crisis fit in to his schedule. Angel and the other's would need him. Fred would need him, or rather, Illyria would need him. She'd need somebody.

Joan sat, still in slight shock. Dawn wanted her to move to Cleveland? Drop out of school? Her parents would go insane! She wasn't even paying attention to the others. Quit school. Move to Cleveland. Quit School. The thought's just kept coming, over and over again. She startled when she felt a hand stroke her arm--she looked up into Dawn's eyes where the confusion was met with a look of pain.

“I know it’s hard to understand, but there’s still more that needs to be covered. Can we take a break? We can finish later tonight, or tomorrow if you’d prefer. There’s a couple dozen things I have to see to.” Dawn stood and stretched. “If you want the story about the first, fine, ask one of the scoobies. Only talk in the Library or the porch--they’re privacy spelled. We can’t have the newbie slayer’s hearing something and bolting before the details are worked out.”

She immediately wandered out of the library. She’d put off this talk long enough--two days--but it couldn’t wait forever. Giles needed to be prepared for what LA was going to reveal. He needed to know so the two of them could plan when to tell the world about slayers. This being in charge deal was rough, but she needed to practice it. If what Joan had told her was true, she needed to practice being the general because, fairly soon, she would be in charge.

She impatiently wiped at her eyes and frowned. She still had a little time to spend with Buffy before...She shook her head once more. No thinking about Buffy dying. It was against the rules--slayer rule #1--and Buffy wouldn't do it. Not again, not with The First on his way once more. Joan was just wrong this time, had to be. G-d made mistakes, right?

~~