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Healing Wounds	By : Sylver Category: Anita Blake > Crossovers > AB/BtVS Views: 5402 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Anita Blake series, nor BtVS. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Anita looked around them, taking in the overwhelming tension but not sure what was causing it. “Okay, I obviously just walked in on something, but unless it’s serious, I suggest we just get down to business because there is some major shit going on out there. It’s like ‘Night of the Living Dead’ revisited and all the animators working together couldn’t lay a single one of those mothers back to rest.”

“Oui, ma petite,” Jean-Claude said, moving up to help her out of her suit coat. “It is time to discuss our ‘plan,’ I think.” He let his hands linger for a moment on her shoulders, using the marks between them to offer her some comfort. A lot had happened between them, and things were far from being okay in their relationship, but ultimately he loved this woman, and didn’t like seeing her suffering from such stress and fear. Glancing over at Richard he saw a deep look of longing in his eyes and sent him thoughts of comfort as well, expecting that like always they would be rejected. The dark-haired vampire was shocked when Richard smiled in return and moved closer, taking Anita’s hand in his.

Anita couldn’t have been more surprised if everyone in the room had spontaneously burst into song. Her astonishment must have shown because the Queen of Nightmares suddenly burst out laughing.

“Oh, the young are always so amusing, so passionate. After this is all over, I will have to visit you again Jean-Claude. Who would’ve guessed you could provide such entertainment? Lust, betrayal, violence, mmm desire. Normally I like to create my own amusement, but I could be quite content for a very long time, I think, watching the lot of you just play with each other.”

Using all of his calming influence to counteract Anita’s protective impulses, Jean-Claude took a moment to respond. “I am pleased that you have enjoyed your visit so far and surely, if we survive, other visits might be arranged. However, I believe you will have your hands quite full for a time finding appropriate punishments for those who dared to oppose you.”

The dark-haired beauty studied the trio with her flat-black eyes before laughing again. “Oh, Jean-Claude, as always you are practical and wise beyond your years. I’m sure when this is over there will be a place for you on our council. You and your servants can return to court with the Traveler, Morte D’Amore, and myself.”

“A very generous offer indeed,” Jean-Claude said with a small bow, “One I will take into serious consideration. For now, though, we should get back to the matter at hand.”

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Over the next several hours they discussed what special abilities each member of the group could offer, and who their allies were, including vampires, humans, and weres. Anita had contacted all the various were groups and all had agreed to lend a hand in whatever capacity they could. Even the swanmanes had agreed to assist with emergency medical care, being unsuitable for fighting.
Anita had arranged for Rafael, the leader of the wererats, to place lookouts throughout the city to notify them of any changes in the situation, and Ted, Edward, was working on acquiring weapons. The only real debate was whether to stage the attack from the Circus or to take it outside the city limits.

To the council members the answer seemed obvious, everyone was in agreement that it was somehow Willow’s magic that had woken the Dark Mother, and her movement toward St. Louis seemed to confirm that she was coming for the young witch. The council members and various others among their party, including Edward, agreed that the Circus was the best defensive point. Surely the human population would take out some of the Mother’s followers on their way to the stronghold, although admittedly most of these “innocent bystanders” would be killed in the process. The remaining armies of vampires and zombies would have a tough time breaching the Circus’ security. It was clearly their best shot at success, if there was any chance of success at all.
However, Anita, Willow, and several others thought the risk to the general population was too high. They thought it would be better to lure them out of town where there would be less civilian casualties, and fight them on open ground. After much heated debate, Willow finally got fed up with the situation.

“Look, if you are all so convinced that it’s me she’s after, then the point is moot anyway, because I will NOT stay here and endanger innocent people. You can either help me or not, but I’m going to face her somewhere away from the city,” Willow said with firm conviction, rising from the table where they were all seated so that she could pace the room.

Edward rose as well, moving to block her way. “Listen, I don’t like you, I don’t care if you die, and frankly I don’t really care if everyone in this whole damn city dies with you, but there are people out there that Ted…I… care about. If we don’t stop this thing then everyone may die, every little boy and girl, all the soccer moms, and weekend dads, everyone, everywhere, dead. I can’t let that happen, and neither can you. We have a better chance if we stay, so we stay.”

Willow felt sick at his words, but knew they were true and nodded her assent. They were arguing over nothing, they had no choice but to stay and fight where they were. Feeling defeated already, the redhead decided to take a little break and get some fresh air. The minute she turned to leave, Spike offered to go with her, but she needed to think, so in the end he sent Nathaniel along to keep an eye on her in case there was any trouble.

Anita arched a brow at the way the blonde vampire commanded the young wereleopard, but when she opened her mouth to comment her voice was stilled by Jean-Claude's hand on her arm. Nathaniel gave her a somewhat guilty glance before following his new master’s orders and trailing off behind Willow.

Anita turned her eyes back on Spike. “Maybe we all should take a little break. What do you say, Spike, why don’t you help me in the kitchen making some coffee and snacks for the kiddies while Jean-Claude calls in some weres for the vamps WITHOUT their own pomme de sangs.”

Spike shifted a bit uncomfortably before rising to his feet and following her out of the room. Once in the kitchen he set about getting mugs for the various weres that wanted something to drink while Anita heated the water.

“So,” she began, not looking at Spike, “I see that Nathaniel is now one of yours.”

“Look, I was planning to tell you, I just haven’t had the chance what with the apocalypse and all.”

“Uh huh, and what makes you think I’d just let you ‘keep’ Nathaniel?” she asked, turning serious eyes on him.

“Because it’s what he wants and I can take proper care of him which is what he needs.”

“Wrong. What he needs is to become his own man, which is finally starting to happen, and I’m not about to let you ruin that for him.”

“I see, so instead of letting me be his master, providing him with protection and the type of caring he craves most, you would rather keep him as your own pet, never giving him the attention he needs and ignoring the way the others view him with contempt.”

“Oh give me a break, you just want a personal snack for you and Willow!”

“Right, and you never used him to satisfy your own needs? How’s that arduer working out for you?”

“Fuck you, you don’t know anything about that,” Anita spat at him.

“Right, I don’t know anything about uncontrollable hunger, h-e-l-l-o vampire here! Or maybe you mean that I don’t know anything about casting someone aside when I'm done using them? I’m sure Nathaniel could fill me in on what that’s like, but the little kitty is too loyal to bad mouth you.”

“How dare you judge me! I’m trying to help him!”

“By teasing him mercilessly and never allowing him any real satisfaction? Oh, I know, by forcing him to care for himself when he is incapable of protecting himself. Or maybe you mean that you're helping him by constantly making him feel like he’s unworthy of your affection?”

“And you think that treating him like some kind of pet is better? It’s totally degrading!”

“It’s what HE wants. You’re so hell fire sure that he should be making his own decisions but only when they’re the ones YOU want him to make. You’re a total hypocrite, luv, and it’s making the poor kitty miserable.”

“His name is Nathaniel,” Anita ground out, but part of her had to wonder at his words. Was she making him his own man, or the kind of man she thought he should be? Was he really unhappy?

Spike could see her inner turmoil and couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for her; in her own way she did think she was helping him after all. “Look, pet, why don’t you talk to Nathaniel and ask him what he wants. If he doesn’t want to be with me and Willow then no harm, no foul. But, if he does, then the right thing to do is to let him go.”

“Okay,” she conceded after a minute. “If we survive this, I’ll talk to him.”

To be continued…

* My apologies for the long delay between parts. I was out of the country for a few months and did not have reliable computer access, but I promise when I leave again in Sept. I will be bringing my laptop with me so I can continue writing. *
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Healing Wounds