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"Okay, Willow, care to explain about what just happened during the mission," Ops inquired as he, Madeline, Michael, Nikita, Willow and Birkhoff made their way into the conference room, taking various seats. Birkhoff sat near Willow, grabbing her hand. She smiled over at him, glad for the comfort he was offering. Willow took a deep, calming breath before looking at the others.
"Its a long story," she told them. "It began about three years ago when Buffy Summers came to town and I found out that vampires, demons and other things that go bump in the night are real." Willow punched some things into the keyboard in front of her. A hologram photo of Buffy suddenly appeared in the air over the table. Willow had preprogrammed it into the computer, just in case she had a need to explain her past to Section.
"Vampires?" Madeline questioned, disbelief in her voice. "Do you really expect us to believe that?"
"Yes," Willow said sincerely, looking right into Madeline’s eyes. For once, Madeline was the first one to turn her head. "Because it’s true. Ask Nikita and Michael.. They just had an encounter with one of the most feared vampires in history and have survived. A feat not many can claim." Willow turned to her two friends. "You can’t deny that those things back at the house where vampires, can you?"
"I don’t know what they were," Michael admitted as he felt Madeline and Ops attention turn to him. "But I know they weren’t human."
"So, vampires are really, and you discovered this before you even came to Section," Madeline said in disbelief, but not as obvious about it this time. "You knew the one that was in charge. I believe you called him Spike. How did you know him?"
"He was in Sunnydale at the same time that you came and recruited me," Willow answered easily. "He tried to kill me and my friends a few times. He was unsuccessful." Willow grinned at the thought that she had actually manage to kill William the Bloody, while Buffy had been unsuccessful. Nope, she wasn’t the same little hacker she used to be.
"You said that you found out about vampires when this Buffy girl came to town. How did you learn of their existence?"
"I was attacked one night at the Bronze. They killed my friend Jessie," Willow’s eyes teared a bit at the thought of her late friend. "Buffy saved me. And I helped her after that. We called ourselves the slayerettes."
"Slayerettes?" Birkhoff asked, wary of what his girlfriend was telling them.
"Yeah. Or the scooby gang, just depended on that mood we were in."
"How is it that this Buffy person was able to rescue you from the vampires?" Ops inquired, trying to get back to the topic at hand.
"Okay, this part was always Giles’ favorite thing. ‘Vampires and demons have been on this planet forever, and as such, there was a chosen one. One girl who was given the ability and strength to fight against the darkness. She is the vampire slayer.’ Buffy’s that slayer," Willow explained. "She fights vampires and demons and we help her with research or going on patrol with her or just hanging out when she needs some down time. We’re one big slaying family."
"Whose part of this family?" Nikita had a feeling that she already knew the answer considering the people that Willow was always talking about, but she just wanted to confirm her suspicions.
"Well, there’s Giles. He’s Buffy’s watcher. Helps with her training and research. Then there’s Xander and Cordelia, who also helps with research. Oz, my ex-boyfriend,’ Willow squeezed Birkhoff’s hand as she talked about Oz. "He’s a werewolf, but a good one. Anya, who I don’t know. She’s a former vengeance demon who came to town because Xander, in his infinite stupidity, cheated on Cordelia with Faith, who I also don’t know. Faith is another slayer." A picture came up as Willow spoke each name, allowing Section to get a glimpse of the people that Willow had cared about before coming to Section, finally allowing Nikita, Michael and Birkhoff a chance to see the friends that they had only heard about before.
"I thought you said that there was only one chosen one," Madeline said.
"Yeah, well, Buffy never was one who went for the rules. She died a little over a year ago, but only for a minute. Unfortunately, it was long enough to call out the next slayer. That was Kendra. She was killed a few months ago in Jamaica by some demon. After that, it was Faith’s turn. She’s been in Sunnydale helping Buffy and the others after her watcher was killed. So, now there are two slayers. And they need help." Willow stated, making sure that they knew exactly whose help they needed, knowing that the true test was about to take place.
"What kind of help?" Ops said.
"According to Spike, and confirmed by someone else I know, the mayor is planning on becoming some kind of demon the day of graduation. According to Anya, who has seen this kind of thing before, it is not something that will be pleasant for anyone. Red Cell had gotten involved as a favor to the mayor. They have been hired to take out Buffy and the others before the ceremony so that they will be unable to do anything to stop it."
"What other source are you talking about? The same one that has helped you in knowing exactly what has been going on in Sunnydale?" Madeline asked. Willow could tell that the woman was not happy about the fact that Willow had kept something such as vampires being real from Section. Never mind that, unless the saw them for themselves, they would have thought she was crazy. Not to mention that is was obvious that, while Willow had not been in contact with any of her known friends in Sunnydale, that she did know someone that was able to get information to her. That meant a possible breach of security that Madeline did not even want to consider.
"A friend of mine," Willow said evasively, knowing that she had to tell Section about Angel, but not wanting to do so just yet. "He and I have kept in touch for the past couple of months and he tells me what is going on. He said that, right now, the mayor is indestructible. No matter what they try. And, Anya told them that the only thing that could kill the demon is a major explosion. The last one was killed by a volcano going off."
"And you feel that it would be beneficial for all if we went in and helped your friends out of their little jam?" Willow seethed at the smug look on Madeline’s face, hating the woman for seeming indifference to the plights of the people of Sunnydale.
"I would say so," Willow told the woman. "I mean, the whole demon thing, not of the good. It would make the people we go against pale in comparison. I’ve seen what some of the smaller demons can do. Not pretty," Willow told the shocked group. She looked around at everyone that meant so much to her and watched as they tried to absorb the information that she had just given them. Madeline seemed to be unaffected, but Willow could see that the woman was bothered by it. Ops’ face was a little more telling. He didn’t know what was going on. Michael and Nikita were holding each other’s hands, not even bothering to hide it, as they sought comfort in each other. They loved Willow like a daughter, as well as a friend, and they hated what she had to go through before she came to Section. Birkhoff was the most affected though. He loved Willow with all his heart but couldn’t understand why she had felt the need to keep something so important hidden from he. He knew that she had kept some things secret, as well as many in Section did, but he had no idea that it was something so major as the fact that she used to fight demons and vampires for a living. He looked over at the woman who shared his life and saw her watching him, concern and love written on her face and he suddenly didn’t care about the fact that she didn’t tell them. He loved her and he would do anything she would asked. Willow saw Birkhoff make a decision and she smiled at him, cupping his cheek in her hand, mouthing an ‘I love you’ to him.
"Is that why you are so good at fighting?" Michael finally asked, breaking the silence that had engulfed the room.
Willow nodded her head. "Yeah. I didn’t lie about the reason. I mean, it was for self-defense, just not of the human variety. Sunnydale is not exactly the safest place to go out at night, but considering what I did for fun, that was the only time for me to go out. I needed to be able to protect myself and my friends. I didn’t have a choice."
"Willow," Nikita said, as she thought of a long ago conversation with the red head. She was trying to think of a way to phrase the question that was going through her mind, remembering another person that Willow had talked about once, but did not mention in her briefing. "who was Angel?" Willow stood up and walked over to the window, looking out over Section, taking deep breathes to calm herself. "You told me about him once. Said that he was involved with Buffy. Why didn’t you talk about him?"
"Angel’s a good friend of mine. He is also the love of Buffy’s life, even though the two of them can’t be together. He helps Buffy and the others by getting them information that they otherwise would not be able to find," Willow explained.
"He’s back?"
"Yes. I got him back a few months ago. He’s been helping Buffy ever since, trying to redeem himself in their eyes. According to him, it hasn’t been an easy job. They aren’t as willing as I to see past his previous actions."
"What do you mean, you got him back? You have not been away from Section since you have come in," Ops told the girl.
"Well, it goes like this. There once was a vampire named Darla. One night, outside a tavern in Galway, she found a young handsome man and turned him. That was the night, Angelus, the Scourge of Europe was born. "Michael, Ops and Madeline all gasped, having heard the name before. About the reign of terror that was attributed to him. They never knew he was a vampire. "Angelus was pure evil. Spike and Drusilla were two of his childre. Spike being the first and his favorite. Drusilla, Angelus had decided to play with. He killed everything that she loved. Her family. Her priest. And on the day she was to take her vows in order to become a nun, Angelus took her. That was after he had already driven her to the brink of insanity, a place she never came back from.
"Then about eighty years ago or so, Angelus did the stupidist thing he could have done. He found a young girl and had her for dinner. Unfortunately, this was no ordinary girl. She was a favorite among her gypsy clan. So they cursed Angelus, giving him a soul but yet retaining all the memories as his time as Angelus. That is how Angel was born."
"Angel is a vampire?" Nikita asked, remembering all of the things the Willow had told her about the man. She couldn’t put together the two different images that Willow was giving her.
"Yes, but a good one. At least he has been, more or less, since that time."
"More or less?"
Willow started to fidget a bit as she remembered the events of the year before. "Well, apparently the Rom decided to put a clause on the curse without telling anyone. If Angel was to find a moment of true happiness, where his guilt would no longer be present, then he would lose his soul once more and revert back to Angelus. Last year, on the night of Buffy’s seventeenth birthday, he had that one moment. Next thing we knew, he was holding me by my neck, threatening to kill me."
"But you said he was back," Birkhoff asked, looking at Willow, hating the tears that were threatening to run down her cheeks as she remembered her past.
"I got him back. Remember that time you all came over and found me past out." Michael, Nikita and Birkhoff all nodded, clearly remembering that night and how worried they were about her. "I lied about the kind of spell I was doing. It wasn’t for protection, well not in the strictest sense of the word. I had found a soul restoration spell in one of the web sites that I always got to. That’s what I was attempting to perform. But I was too late." The group watched as Willow allowed the tears to fall as her memories overtook her, even Madeline feeling her heart go out to the girl who had apparently been through more than anyone had even imagined.
"He and Buffy were battling. Apparently Angelus was trying to open a portal to hell, one that would take over and destroy humanity. Buffy was trying to stop him. By the time that I had completely the spell, and Angel’s soul was returned to him, it was too late. The portal was already opening and the only way for it to close was for Buffy to stab Angel and use his blood to close it. And she did, not only closing the portal but sending Angel to hell also."
"How do you know this?" Nikita said, getting up and going over to Willow, wrapping her arms around her, giving her a hug. Willow clung to Nikita for a moment, before regaining her composure. She pulled away from Nikita and took in everyone around the room.
"Well, the only thing that Angel and I have been able to figure out was because of the restoration ritual, we now have this bond, where we can talk to each other. At first, it was only in our dreams but now, we can do it whenever we concentrate really hard."
"So, Angel is in hell now?" Michael wanted to know as he watched Nikita take her seat again. Willow nodded her head.
"No. I did another spell some time ago and got him out. I had to. Through the dreams and the talks I knew what was being done to him. What he was going through. I couldn’t leave him there. I had to do something. One day I found the spell and when the conditions were right I cast it. Angel returned to Earth that day, back in Sunnydale where he had first disappeared from. He has been there ever since and," turning to Madeline, "he is who has kept me informed of the situation in Sunnydale."
"Back in the van," Nikita started, "when you were in that trance. You were talking to Angel, weren’t you?"
"Yes. I wanted to find out what he knew about the mayor’s plans. I also wanted to tell him about Spike and Drusilla before he found out from someone else. They were his childre, no matter what he might have felt about them, he still cared about them. He told me about the Ascension."
"And you told him about Section." Madeline stated.
"No," Willow shook her head, walking over to the computer again, knowing that the time for the last surprise to come. "He already knew. He’s known you’ve had me since the night Michael and Nikita came and took me. Spike had seen them come and went and told Angelus. He put two and two together, and had fun in telling Buffy and the others about my new life. He knew that the fact that there was nothing that they could do to help me would hurt far more than if they thought I was dead."
"He knew about Section? How?" Birkhoff asked. Willow smiled at him as she hit a button. A picture of Angel appeared in front of everyone, surprising them with the image. "Liam?"
"Willow, why do you have a picture of Liam?" Ops asked.
"Because Liam is Angel," Willow stated, matter of factly.
"Liam was a vampire? But he died four years ago," Michael said in disbelief.
"Actually, he died over two hundred years ago," Willow corrected the man, "he just faked his death four years ago. That’s when Whistler, a good demon who works for the Powers That Be, showed him Buffy and told him that she was his destiny. He fell in love with her at first sight and so he went to Sunnydale to wait for her. He’s been there ever since."
"And he believes that Section should help this group in Sunnydale also?" Madeline asked.
"Yes. But, with one condition. That I be allowed to go with them," Willow quickly continued before she could be interrupted. "He knows that it is an odd request, but it makes sense. Buffy and the others know Section has me. They won’t be willing to accept any help unless they know that I am all right. Angel knows that this is my life now, he understands and accepts that. If anything, I would say he almost approves of it. He knew me before Section, and he knows me now and he likes the changes that have happened. He also knows that, no matter what happens in Sunnydale, that I will be coming back to Section, both because I have to but because I also will want to."
"And he accepts this? What if we also want to bring him back here now that we know where and what he is?" Madeline asked, curiously.
"Because, he would be able to escape in a heartbeat," Willow answered smugly. "He often disappeared without Section knowing about it. He had to considering the cafeteria doesn’t exactly have what he eats. Not to mention, he often did patrols in the area, getting rid of any vampires and the such. He had no problem with security." Madeline and Ops took that in, realizing the truth of the statement.
"I see your point. In return for our help with the Red Cell faction, what does Angel want in return?" Ops asked.
"Nothing. He just doesn’t want to see them hurt, that’s all." Ops and Madeline nodded their heads. Willow saw this. "So does that mean that you are willing to help them?" Willow knew that she had taken a lot of chances with her friends lives, telling Section about Sunnydale, but she knew that unless the full truth was disclosed, that the odds were good that they wouldn’t agree to help them.
"I believe that it would be for our benefit to help them," Madeline answered. "You, Michael, Nikita and Birkhoff will go to Sunnydale, as soon as possible to assist them. Inform Walter of whatever needs you may have." A cold look entered Madeline’s eyes. "But, Willow, know this. You will not be allowed to stay in Sunnydale past the time of the mission. We will allow you to see you’re friends graduate, but after that you will return to Section."
"I understand," Willow replied, just happy that she would be able to see Buffy and the others at least once more.
"That will be all." Ops dismissed the group, who left silently. He turned to Madeline.
"What do you think?"
"It explains a lot of the missing pieces in her file. Her fighting ability. Her quick mind when planning a mission. These are things that she probably picked up from helping her friends."
"Do you think that we should being them into Section?"
Madeline thought a moment, "I don’t believe so. I think they would be more trouble than they are worth, and if what Willow states is accurate, they are needed where they are." Ops nodded his head and thought about the young red head that just left and how she had managed to change everyone’s reality in such a short time. Yes, there was something special about her.