Chapter Twenty-Nine: New Fears

Xavier’s School…one hour later

Scott parked his car in the driveway. He was too tired to think about moving it tonight, and it was imperative that he tell Xavier about the Brotherhood. Magneto might be in jail, but it was not beyond the realm of possibility that he wasn’t still able to direct his Brotherhood from behind the walls of his plastic prison.

Even more than that, however, was the way Mystique had seemed so fascinated by Buffy. He was worried that Buffy was a potential target for the Brotherhood, especially now that Mystique knew that he and Buffy were cousins. If Mystique got it in her mind to recruit Buffy to the Brotherhood, she’d stop at nothing, and wouldn’t even hesitate to go after his Aunt if she thought that it would lure Buffy to the Brotherhood.

As they walked up the steps to the front door, Scott noticed with a flash of worry that Buffy was limping slightly. “Are you all right, Squirt?”

Buffy winced, but nodded. “Yeah. Word of advice though? Never walk in New York alleys without shoes.”

“Do you need to go down to the med lab? We don’t need you getting an infection or a disease from whatever you stepped in,” Scott said, concern momentarily flashing to the forefront of his brain.

Buffy shook her head wearily. “No. I’ll just go and take a shower and wash them really well. I’ll put some antibacterial stuff on them too, and I’ll be okay. My Slayer healing will take care of anything else.”

“Are you sure? Jean’s a trained doctor, you know. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind helping you,” Scott replied.

Buffy smiled at him. “I’m sure, Scott.”

“What in the world happened to you two?” Jean’s voice suddenly broke into their conversation. While they’d been talking, they’d entered the mansion, and she’d been walking through the Great Hall on her way to the library. Her eyes were wide with surprise.

Scott looked at Jean, and then glanced back at Buffy, before looking at his own suit. He winced. They were certainly a sight. Buffy was barefoot, her dress torn and covered in garbage and dust, her hands and arms covered in slime and dried blood, and her hair in complete disarray. He wasn’t much better. His suit was also covered with dust and garbage, and while he didn’t have any injuries, he was exhausted from the near miss with the Brotherhood. If it hadn’t been for Buffy, he would definitely be worse off than he had been.

“It was…an interesting night,” he replied.

Jean stared at him. “I’d say so. I didn’t know Broadway was that interesting.”

Buffy snorted and limped towards the stairs. “Broadway, shmaudway. We didn’t even make it to the theatre.”

“Scott?” Jean asked, looking at Buffy in concern when she noticed the younger woman limping.

Scott sighed and walked towards Jean. “We had a run in with the Brotherhood and some New York vampires. Buffy saved both of us.”

“What?” Jean’s eyes went wide with shock. “The Brotherhood? Vampires? I thought that you were going to the theatre!”

Scott sighed. “Jean, can you find Storm and the Professor? I want to take a shower and get some clean clothes on, and then I’ll explain everything.” He reached up to massage his aching shoulder.

She nodded. “Are you all right?” she asked quietly, noticing the way he was rubbing his shoulder.

“I’m fine, Jean. It’s just a bruise.” He kissed her gently. “Would you check on Buffy too? She broke one of her shoes and had to go barefoot, and I’m worried she hurt herself.”

“Of course. I’ll get some pain relief cream for your shoulder too,” Jean replied, returning the kiss.

“Thanks, Jean.” With that, Scott headed up the stairs towards his own room, thinking only of a hot shower and some comfortable clothes.

Buffy’s Room…several minutes later…

“Ugh,” Buffy mumbled as she pulled off her ruined dress. She looked at the beautiful copper silk. If the dress could have been repaired and cleaned after the incident with the vampires, it was now a total loss. She felt bad about it too, since Ororo and Jean had been so nice to buy it for her for tonight.

Tossing it and the ruined shoes into a pile on the ground, she quickly unstrapped the knife from around her leg and removed the two hair prongs from what was left of the attractive French twist. She set the weapons down on the nightstand, and unpinned the rest of her hair before stripping and heading into the attached bathroom with a wince for her injured feet.

She started running hot water in the bathtub and while she waited for it to fill, she sat down on a chair in the corner of the room and studied her feet. Besides being filthy, she could see that they were bleeding a little bit from numerous cuts. She winced, hoping that she hadn’t tracked blood through the Professor’s mansion or in Scott’s car.

She stood up and reached for a washcloth. Wetting it in the sink, she began to scrub the bottom of her feet clean so that they wouldn’t contaminate her bath water. The hot water stung like crazy, and Buffy swore softly several times.

There was a knock on her bedroom door, and Jean called in from the hallway. “Buffy? Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, Jean,” Buffy called back, reaching over and turning off the tub before mixing in some of the bath salts that had been left in the bathroom. The scent of sandalwood rose invitingly on the steam coming from the bath.

“May I come in?” the redhead called.

Buffy sighed. “Just a second.” She limped back out into the bedroom and reached for her robe, slipping it on and belting it around her waist tightly before walking over and letting Jean inside.

Jean smiled at her. “Scott wanted me to check on you since you were limping.”

“I’m okay. I already washed my feet, and I’m gonna go and soak in a tub and remove the rest of the grime,” Buffy said, moving back towards the bathroom.

“May I see your feet?” Jean asked.

Buffy sighed, but nodded. “Sure.” She sat down in the chair next to the desk and when Jean knelt down on the ground, she lifted her feet up for the older woman to look at.

Jean frowned at the sight of all of the cuts. Now that most of the grime had been removed, she could also see bruises beginning to form. “Some of these cuts look deep, Buffy. They could use some stitches.”

“Stitches? In my feet?!” Buffy replied, incredulously. “No way!”

“Buffy, you don’t want to get infected feet,” Jean insisted.

“I won’t. My Slayer powers will take care of it. All they need is a good soak and maybe some anti-bacterial cream and band aids, and I’ll be fine in a day or so.”

Jean looked uncertain. “I don’t know, Buffy.”

Buffy put her feet back down. “I do.” She stood and walked back to the bathroom, trying not to limp despite how tender her feet were getting. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a hot bath.”

“All right,” Jean replied, following Buffy into the bathroom. “There should be band aids and Neosporin in here already.” Opening several cupboards, Jean quickly located the first aid supplies and laid them on the bathroom counter. “If you need anything, we’ll be in the Professor’s study. You can use the intercom on the wall and Scott or I will come up and help you.”

“Okay.” Buffy said, standing near the tub, obviously waiting for Jean to leave. Jean took the hint and left, closing the bedroom door behind her.

Once she was gone, Buffy slipped the robe off and stepped into the steaming bath. She yelped as the hot water stung her cuts, but toughed it out until her feet got used to the temperature of the water before settling down for a long soak.

Xavier’s study…thirty minutes later

The X-Men all assembled in Xavier’s study once Scott had had a chance to get himself cleaned up. Jean had stopped by his room with some Icy Hot and had helped him massage it into his bruised arm and shoulder before they went downstairs.

“Scott, are you all right?” Xavier asked once his protégé made an appearance. He was seated behind his desk, while Ororo and Jean were seated on the couch in the middle of the room.

“I’m better now, thanks, Professor.” Scott took a seat in front of Xavier’s desk.

“What happened, Scott? Jean mentioned that you had a run-in with the Brotherhood and some vampires.” Ororo asked.

“We did,” Scott nodded. “We were on our way to the theatre, when Buffy somehow sensed that there were vampires around. She…well, I guess the best word is tracked… them into a nearby alley. I followed her. There were two of them, and they had each grabbed someone and were about to bite them when Buffy intervened.”

“Were the people all right?” Xavier asked, concerned.

“Yeah, once Buffy got them away from the vampires, they ran. Buffy was amazing to watch. She tossed one of them ten feet away like it was nothing, but then she got thrown into a pile of garbage. I offered to help her, but she was pissed at them for ruining her dress. She beat both of them with a fair amount of ease. After the fight, we realized that there was no way she could go to the theatre covered in garbage, and there wasn’t time to find somewhere else for her to get cleaned up. The heel of one of her shoes was broken off, so she took off her shoes and we walked back out to the street. I called a cab to take us back to my car. We had to walk a short way to get back to the parking lot, but when we were almost there, Toad appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her and dragged her into another alley.”

“Toad?” Storm exclaimed in surprise. “I fried him at the Statue though. He took a direct hit from a lightning bolt while his tongue was wrapped around a metal rail.”

Scott shrugged. “He survived somehow. Anyway, I followed them into the alley, to see Buffy dangling in mid-air, but before I could do anything to help her, Sabretooth and Mystique appeared. They seemed very intent on getting revenge for what happened at Liberty Island.”

“Why didn’t you call for help?” Jean asked.

Scott winced. “I didn’t have my communicator with me. I did try to reach you, Professor, but I guess you didn’t hear me. I was worried you might not.”

Xavier frowned. “I was rather distracted. I wasn’t keeping an ‘eye’ on you, since I wasn’t expecting any trouble.”

Scott could tell the Professor felt bad. If he’d heard Scott’s call for help, Jean and Storm could have been there within a few minutes. “It’s all right Professor. Buffy broke free of Toad, somehow, and then kept all three of them at bay. She really is an amazing fighter. She’d be such an incredible asset to the team.”

Xavier nodded. “I know, Scott. But she doesn’t seem to be a mutant, although without running some tests on her, I can’t say that for sure. She might be the Slayer because she’s a mutant, or her Slayer abilities might be masking her mutant powers.”

Scott frowned. “So she could still develop mutant gifts in the future, on top of her Slayer abilities?”

“I don’t know, Scott. I don’t know how the Slayer legacy works,” Xavier admitted. “You’re cousins, so there must be some commonalities in your DNA. But whether or not the mutant X gene is one of them…” Xavier shrugged.

Scott’s frown deepened. “Could you tell if you ran some tests on her…on us?”

“Perhaps, Scott. Perhaps.”

Jean frowned. “You sound worried, Scott.”

“I am, Jean. Buffy revealed to Mystique that we’re cousins, so Mystique thinks she’s a mutant. I’m worried that Mystique will try to convert Buffy to her side.”

Ororo looked puzzled. “You can’t possibly think that Buffy would agree to something like that, even if she is a mutant.”

“Not deliberately, no…but to save me? Or Aunt Joyce?” Scott countered. “If Mystique is persistent enough, she’ll learn what Buffy’s weaknesses are, and she’ll exploit them.”

Ororo looked skeptical. “Buffy wouldn’t stand for anything to happen to you or her mother, Scott.”

“Damn right. I’d kick the ass of anyone who tried,” Buffy’s voice said.

Buffy’s room…

Buffy soaked in the tub until the water cooled off. She debated whether or not to run a second tub, before deciding that she’d had enough for one night. Besides, she wanted to go and make sure Scott was really okay. She thought he was, but since she’d been focused on Toad for the first part of the fight, she didn’t know if she’d missed anything.

Stepping out of the tub, she dried herself off thoroughly, paying special care to her tender feet. Once she was sure her feet were dry, she smeared some anti-bacterial cream on the cuts and stuck some band aids to cover them and keep them clean. Moving back into her room, she quickly pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a spaghetti strap top, before shoving her feet into her slippers to give her a little bit of extra padding and take the pressure off her bruised feet.

She walked down the hall to Scott’s room and knocked on the door, but there was no answer. She frowned, and then remembered that Jean had said that they were going to be in the Professor’s study. Turning around, she went down the hallway to the back staircase and descended to the computer lab. She cut through the computer room and out into the Great Room. She crossed over to the Professor’s study, but paused when she saw the door was open.

“I know, Scott. But she doesn’t seem to be a mutant, although without running some tests on her, I can’t say for sure. She might be the Slayer because she’s a mutant, or her Slayer abilities might be masking her mutant powers,” Professor Xavier was saying.

“So she could still develop mutant gifts in the future, on top of her Slayer abilities?” Scott asked.

What the hell? Buffy thought. Scott thinks I could be a mutant? Why? He knows I’m the Slayer.

“I don’t know, Scott. I don’t know how the Slayer legacy works. You’re cousins, so there must be some commonalities in your DNA. But whether or not the mutant X gene is one of them…” The Professor trailed off.

“Could you tell if you ran some tests on her…on us?” Scott sounded worried.

“Perhaps, Scott. Perhaps.”

Jean spoke up. “You sound worried, Scott.”

“I am, Jean. Buffy revealed to Mystique that we’re cousins, so Mystique thinks she’s a mutant. I’m worried that Mystique will try to convert Buffy to her side.”

“You can’t possibly think that Buffy would agree to something like that, even if she is a mutant,” Ororo said.

“Not deliberately, no…but to save me? Or Aunt Joyce?” Scott countered. “If Mystique is persistent enough, she’ll learn what Buffy’s weaknesses are, and she’ll exploit them.”

“Buffy wouldn’t stand for anything to happen to you or her mother, Scott.”

Okay, I’m putting a stop to that line of thought, Buffy thought to herself and moved towards the open door. “Damn right. I’d kick the ass of anyone who tried.”

Scott twisted around in his seat. “Buffy. Are you all right?”

“Physically? Yeah, I’m peachy with a side of keen,” Buffy waved her hand in dismissal. “However, I do want to know what the heck you’re thinking Scott. You really think that I’d betray everything I stand for and turn evil?” There was a hurt tone in her voice that she didn’t even attempt to hide.

“No!” Scott exclaimed. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, start explaining Scotty,” Buffy replied crossing her arms and looking at him seriously.

Scott squirmed slightly under her unflinching gaze. “Buffy, I trust you, without a doubt. I know how ethical you are, but I don’t ever want to see you put into a situation where you would feel like you had to make a choice between someone you love and doing the right thing.”

“News flash, Scott. Do you realize how many times I’ve had to make that choice?” Buffy asked. “Ever since I became the Slayer, it’s been a constant struggle for me. That’s why I work so hard to keep my secret from Mom. Seeing Xander, Willow, and Giles leap into the fight without question makes me sick with dread. They’re careful, but they don’t have the same powers I do. Every time we fight together, I’m faced with the possibility of having to choose to keep them safe, and doing the right thing if something were to explode in my face.”

Scott gestured around the room. “I understand Buffy. It’s just that…well, we’ve been battling the Brotherhood for years now, and I know how ruthless they can be. The incident at Liberty Island is just the latest in a long line of attempts to place mutants in control of the rest of the world. Even with Magneto in jail, they aren’t going to stop trying. Mystique knows about you now, and she doesn’t realize you’re not a mutant. If she digs deeply enough, she can find anything out about you that she wants. She’s a computer genius on top of being a shape shifter. If she thinks that she can do something to sway you to their side, she won’t hesitate. She’ll go after you in anyway that she can, including using your mom, me, or any of your friends as leverage.”

Buffy’s eyes narrowed. “I’d like to see her try. I’ve already dusted two Master Vampires and hundreds of minions, not to mention defeating a witch, a giant Preying Mantis, a demon robot, the odd demon or two, an insane invisible girl, and I’ve broken free of the Astral Plane twice. I lost a potential friend the very first day I started at Sunnydale High…she doesn’t stand a chance if she pisses me off.” Her voice hardened. “I’ll take care of the problem that she represents for you, and I’ll do it without batting an eye.”

The other X-Men, who hadn’t heard much about Buffy’s victories as the Slayer save her defeat of the Master, looked shocked at the score card she rattled off. Even Scott was surprised. He knew about the Master, and he’d heard an abbreviated version of the Preying Mantis story, but the other incidents were brand new to him.

What worried Scott most, however, was the cold tone in her voice when Buffy stated that she would “take care” of Mystique. “Buffy…you don’t mean…you wouldn’t…” he trailed off, unable to finish the question.

Buffy stared at him, meeting his gaze squarely, despite the visor, and Scott saw the utter resolve in her eyes. “No one, and I mean no one, messes with my family, unless they have a death wish.”

Scott wished he had a response to that calm statement. He didn’t, however, and the chill that coursed down his spine had little to do with the temperature in the room.

Buffy didn’t break eye contact. “The only thing that you do not need to worry about, Scott, is that I will betray you or anyone I care about. I am the Slayer, and I will do whatever it takes to protect the people I love…without crossing that line.” She paused, and everyone in the room could sense the conviction when she spoke next. “I will sacrifice every person I care for most…if it means protecting them from evil...and I will do it without a moment’s hesitation.”

With that, Buffy turned and walked out of the room, not once looking back.

Scott and the rest of the X-Men stared after Buffy as she left the room, shocked speechless by her firm pronouncement. The conviction in her voice left them with no doubt that she would do exactly what she had promised to do, if it became necessary.

“I don’t think you have to worry about your cousin and what choices she would make, Scott,” Jean finally managed after several minutes of silence.

Scott continued to stare after Buffy, but when he replied, his tone was bleak. “You’re wrong Jean. I’m more worried than I was before.”

Ororo frowned. “I don’t understand, Scott. Buffy seems devoted to her calling and to her family. I don’t know why you would worry about her joining the Brotherhood.” She looked to Xavier. “Did you sense anything from her, Professor? Anything that would indicate that Buffy would consider joining Magneto or Mystique?”

Xavier shook his head. “No, Ororo. Buffy may not be happy about her calling, but she has accepted it as a fact of her life. Her conviction stems from that acceptance and her devotion to her loved ones.”

Scott shook his head again. “Buffy joining the Brotherhood isn’t what is worrying me.”

“Then what is, Scott?” Xavier asked quietly. He knew that look, that tone. Scott was quickly moving beyond worried to outright panic.

“Her conviction that she would do anything to protect her loved ones, including sacrifice them all.” Scott’s expression was bleak. “She’s too young to have to make those kinds of decisions. That’s something that I would expect from someone in the military, not a sixteen-year old girl.”

“Scott, from the little that Buffy has told us about being the Slayer, it seems like she’s been fighting an underground war for the past two years. Isn’t she a soldier of sorts?” Jean asked softly, reaching over and laying a hand on Scott’s arm.

“She shouldn’t have to be, Jean. She seems to be in control now, but she’s still young. Sooner or later, the responsibility, the horrors she sees…they’re going to cause her to crack,” Scott replied with certainty.

Jean and Ororo looked between Scott and the Professor, who reluctantly nodded his head in confirmation of Scott’s pronouncement. Given what he had seen in Buffy’s mind after the Danger Room incident, how fragile her mind had been at that time…he had no doubt that Scott was correct in his assessment of his cousin’s future.

Scott rose to his feet and left the room, following his cousin’s path. Jean called out to him before he exited. “What are you going to do, Scott?”

Scott didn’t turn back, but the conviction in his voice was as strong as Buffy’s had been. “Whatever it takes to keep her from that fate.” He paused, and when he finally spoke his voice was laden with emotion. “I love her Jean. She’s all that I have left of my family, and I will not lose her that way.”