|
|
Disclaimer - All Buffy characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Twentieth Century Fox, Mutant Enemy and anyone else involved with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. All characters and sections from Final Destination were created by James Wong and Glen Morgan, the writers. I'm not really sure who else to mention.
Basic plot - Buffy meets Final Destination. Imagine what could have happened if Buffy had been on that plane when Alex had his premonition, what would have happened if she too had cheated death?Be prepared for the closest calls with death the Scooby Gang have ever witnessed...will Buffy be able to save them this time? Or will it be too late?
Buffy lowered herself into her seat and scanned the plane; it was pretty empty at the moment. She closed her eyes and rested her head on the back of the seat; she wanted to sleep, although she’d have to wait until they took off for that.
“Hey, Buffy. Where did you run off to? We thought we’d lost you.” Willow’s friendly voice came as she sat down in the seat beside her. “Xander nearly died…”
Buffy opened one of her eyes and looked at Xander stood in the aisle, he looked a little on the sick side. “You okay?” She asked softly and sat back up so he could get by.
Xander smiled and edged his way past the two girls to get to his seat. “Just nervous that’s all.”
She laughed, then decided that was a mean thing to do, after all she was nervous about this flight too. “Don’t be nervous, nothing can go wrong I’m here.” * Okay that was a little too big headed! * She thought. “I take that back, I can’t help us if the plane crashes.”
Xander frowned. “Oh, now I feel better…” He turned away from her and looked out of the window.
“Where did Cordy-” Willow began then cut herself off almost immediately as she spotted her behind a group of kids. As usual she looked fabulous, her long dark hair was pulled up onto her head and curled softly, she was wearing a grey miniskirt, black fitted shirt, and black sandals, and they all looked great on her.
Cordy glanced to her friends who were already sat down then back to the finest lad she’d ever laid eyes on in front of her, he had a girlfriend, some curly, blonde haired tart dressed in pink, she even had pretty little matching pink butterfly clips in her hair! * Yuck! How last year! * If Cordy wanted him she’d have to corner him when they got to Paris, otherwise it would be bye, bye love of her life.
She shook head then dropped into her seat in front of Willow. “I just saw the most amazing guy you could ever lay eyes on.”
“Oh, yeah? Where?” Willow leant towards her and whispered then glanced around the aircraft.
Cordy discreetly pointed to the middle aisle. “There the one with dark hair, white tee, girlfriend, Miss pretty in pink. He is so gonna be mine.”
“They look pretty tight, are you sure about that?” Willow said softly then leant back in her seat just in time for the back of it to be knocked, she threw a glance behind her to the person who had knocked it; he was pretty cute. Leaning in to Buffy she whispered. “Check out the guy sat behind Xander.”
Buffy leaned a little closer to Xander and peered through the gap in the seats. “He’s pretty cute, talk to him.”
Willow’s eyes widened beyond belief. “Are you crazy? I can’t talk to him, I don’t know him.”
“You should,” Cordy added from in front, “You have one chance and one chance only.” She craned her neck around and looked at Xander. “Is he asleep or summit?”
Willow glanced across to Xander’s still form but the guy behind who seemed to be having a serious panic attack sidetracked her line of sight. “Uh…Buffy…”
Her voice cracked as one of the male flight attendants came over and addressed him. “Is there a problem, sir?” He looked seriously concerned.
“Yeah, what's your fuckin' problem?” The guy sat in the middle aisle chimed in.
“Alex? Qu'est-ce se?” Willow glanced up to the man who had just spoken, probably one of Alex’s teachers, French teacher by the sounds of it too.
Alex jumped out of his seat and tried to get to the aisle, his friend looked panicked. “Qu'est-ce se?! The planes gonna fucking explode!”
Willow froze, what did he just say? “Buffy?” She whispered and grabbed her friend’s arm tightly.
“Don’t worry…” Buffy whispered back, although she sounded just as shocked. Apparently so were other people.
“Shut up, Browning!” Shouted the guy in the middle aisle again, obviously not one of Alex’s friends.
His girlfriend grabbed his arm, she was seriously scared. “You're so not funny.”
Alex made a beeline for the aisle again, but this time his friend grabbed hold of his shirt in order to keep him in his seat, Alex wasn’t going to have it.
Willow rose slightly in her seat, but was pulled back down by Buffy. “I said don’t worry.”
“Sir, if this is a joke, we don't tolerate such humour.” The flight attendant quickly said as he gestured for some help, a couple more flight attendants moved closer.
Alex’s eyes widened as he spoke. “It’s not a joke, it’s not a joke!” And Willow could tell it wasn’t, he looked so scared.
“Alex, take it easy.” He friend added just before he was literally thrown into the aisle by Alex.
“Listen to me! This plane will explode on take-off!” Alex exploded back.
The flight attendant moved in. “Sir, we will remove you from the aircraft if this continues.”
“I'll remove him.” Willow followed the direction of the voice, it had came from Cordy’s dream guy who was now stood in the aisle looking really peeved.
“Fuck you! I'll remove myself!” Alex declared, and that prompted a huge uproar, the flight attendant reached for him just as Cordy’s dream guy attempted to punch Alex.
Before Willow knew it the attendant was screaming. “Anybody in the aisle is off the plane!”
In what seemed like a few seconds the aisle was empty and the plane was silent again, everybody was just shocked. “I’m following.” Buffy suddenly said into her ear, Willow jumped and glanced at her friend clambering over her knee.
“Buffy!” She called after her, too late she’d gone, she looked to Xander who was just staring at the exit opened mouthed, then grabbed his arm and pulled him into the aisle. “Come on!”
Xander stumbled over the two chairs then straightened himself out when he reached the aisle; he stared at his best friend. “Will, I think we should stay on the plane…”
Cordy stood up. “Well I for one am not staying here after what just happened, let’s follow Buffy.” She turned and marched straight for the exit barging straight past Alex’s friend who had only just decided to go after him, she threw a tiny glance to him and smiled. “Sorry.”
* * *
Buffy raced down the walkway leading back into the airport, a few moments later she reached the waiting room and saw the chaos. Alex was being thrown into a chair; the dark haired guy was also being restrained. Looking back down the walkway Buffy saw Alex’s friend racing towards them, Cordelia was just behind him.
“Cordy, what are you doing here? Why aren’t you on then plane? Where are Willow and-” She was cut off by the co-pilot.
“No one gets back on board. That's my call!” He sounded furious, no forget that, he was beyond furious.
Buffy glanced around worried; Willow and Xander couldn’t go to Paris without them, she moved towards the co-pilot to try and speak to him, but Cordy stopped her.
“It’s okay, they’re here.” She whispered then sat down on the seat behind her.
Willow ran towards Buffy and threw her arms around her friend. “Never leave me on a plane again! Ever!”
“I second that.” Xander added with a smile. “Everyone okay?”
Smiling Buffy ran a hand through her hair and slumped down into the chair behind her, beside Cordy. “Fine. I just wanted to know what was going on that’s all. I didn’t mean to leave you guys there.”
“Just don’t do it again.” Willow threatened and looked across to Alex who was sat almost opposite, he stared at her a moment, then looked away almost embarrassed, and then moved his attention to one of his teachers who was trying to talk to him. “I guess you wanna talk to him, right?”
“Yeah.” Buffy admitted and buried her head in her hands. “Just need to calm down a little.”
“So does he...” Xander said. “Anyone want a drink? Its on me.” He pulled his wallet from his pocket and waited patiently no one answered him. “I’ll take that as a no then, shall I?”
Willow slowly moved towards Xander. “Thanks Xand, but I’m okay.” She looked to Alex again who was now explaining what had happened to his teacher and his friend.
“Only trip you're gonna take is to the fuckin' hospital!” He suddenly shouted as the dark haired guy dived at him again, Willow tensed as a couple of security men rushed past her to separate the two lads.
“You're paying for my trip, Browning!” Shouted the dark haired guy-his girlfriend had called him Carter.
“I wish you were on that plane! You fucking prick!” Alex shouted back just as the window in the waiting room exploded. Everyone’s eyes darted to the window, the sky was full of pieces of debris, the plane was gone.
Willow froze for the second time that day, she couldn’t breathe. “Oh, God…” Cordy let out a scream and leapt into Xander’s arms, Buffy was silent. No one could speak.
* * *
Buffy stared at the clock on the wall, it didn’t seem to want to move, it felt like it had been ten ‘o’ clock for the past hour. Willow was sat at her feet chewing on one of her nails and staring at Alex, she definitely had a fascination with him. Cordy and Xander were sat on a chair opposite, looking completely drained.
Alex was staring down at his hands expressionless; he didn’t know what had happened, even though some of his companions thought he did know. He looked up at them, his voice trembling. “You're looking at me as if I caused it. I didn’t cause this.”
Willow glanced up at Buffy, her eyes sad, she just wanted to go over there and hug him, so what if she didn’t know him, and he needed someone.
Buffy bit her lip and took a breath. “Of course he didn’t.” She whispered.
Alex looked across to her a tiny sparkle of happiness in his eyes, someone understood him.
“Just cause he saw something and then it happened doesn’t meant he’s guilty, give him some slack.” Buffy shuffled in her seat, Willow smiled.
Alex’s teacher looked across at Buffy like she was the devil. “Who are you anyway?”
“Does it matter, I believed him okay, that’s all you need to know.” She sighed.
Then the door opened, and two men in suits stepped in.
* * *
Buffy stared across too the two Agents, Agent Schreck, and Agent Weine, they were asking question after question after question.
Agent Schreck leant on the desk and looked at her sharply. “Buffy, I wish I didn’t have to ask again. But why did yourself and your three friends get off the plane? You didn’t even know the passengers that were ejected from the aircraft.”
She took a breath then looked him in the eyes. “I left the plane because…I wanted to know what was happening…and what Alex was saying scared me…I guess.” She bit her bottom lip. “I was scared…I never get scared.”
Schreck nodded. “That’s understandable.”
* * *
Willow moved across the bench so she was closer to Alex, he was still very quiet. * Of course he’s quiet you idiot! Nearly all his classmates are dead. * She cursed herself. “If it helps…I believed what you were saying on the plane.”
Alex’s eyes darted across from Clear and to the girl that had addressed him, he’d noticed her when he’d got on the plane, but in all that had happened he hadn’t realised she had actually got off the plane too. “You did?” He asked hopefully.
She nodded then offered him her hand. “I’m Willow.”
He shook her hand. “Alex.” Then smiled and looked up at the clock. “I just wanna get home now…”
“Yeah…” Was all she said, Xander who was watching Alex cautiously had grabbed her attention, he didn’t like him you could tell. She decided to ignore Xander’s evil looks. “You don’t get on with that one guy much do you?”
“Carter? I hate him.” Alex replied simply and looked at her hesitantly, he was unsure of whether to confide in this girl or not. “I-” He stopped as soon as he began as the blonde friend of Willow’s came back through the door, he heard Willow sigh sadly.
The blonde girl smiled at Willow. “How do you fancy staying here for a while?” She asked and sat down on the end of the bench, Alex watched in the corner of his eye. “I don’t want to go home yet.”
Willow didn’t answer, instead she looked at Alex.
* * *
Staring at the telephone in her hotel room Willow rummaged in her coat pocket and pulled out the phone number Alex had given her, she hadn’t told Buffy, it was her secret. She dialled the number and someone picked up on the second ring.
“Hello?” The voice answered.
Willow swallowed hard. “Hi, is Alex there?”
“Just a moment…” The line went quiet, Willow waited patiently. Then… “Hello?” Alex’s voice was gentle.
Willow didn’t know what to say now, she was speechless. “Uh…hi…” She replied in what was a forced whisper. “…This is Willow…we met…after…the-” She cut herself off. What the hell was she about to say; we met after the plane we escaped from exploded? What could she say to him? There was nothing…anything.
“Oh, hi.” He answered a moment later, at least he remembered her.
She took a long, deep breath. “I wondered…I mean if you ever want to talk about what happened I’m willing to listen.”
“Thanks.”
* That’s it? Thanks? * Willow’s mouth went dry she really didn’t know what to say, why had she rung him in the first place? “If you maybe want to meet later to-”
“I can’t, there’s a memorial service at my school. We all have to be there…” He sounded distant. “I have to go.”
“Oh, well maybe tomorrow?” She tried again.
“Sorry, bye.” And then he hung up.
Willow felt defeated, beaten. Why was she even bothering?
* * *
Buffy opened the door to hers and Willow’s hotel room, Willow was fast asleep on her bed hugging a teddy bear. Buffy smiled and dropped her bag to the floor beside the sofa, and then reaching for the phone she noticed a piece of paper. She snatched it up into her hand and read it carefully.
Call me on, 555-6731, Alex.
Buffy grinned and keyed the number in, after one ring the phone was answered. “Hello?”
“Hi, is this Alex Browning?” She sat down on the edge of the bed Willow was asleep on and twiddled the telephone cord around her fingers.
“Yes, who is this?” Alex sounded worried.
“I’m not sure if you’d remember me or not, I’m a friend of Willow’s. We didn’t really speak that much…” She hoped he’d remember.
He coughed softly. “The blonde friend?”
“That’s me!” She took a deep breath. “Listen…I wanted to meet up with you to talk about what happened. I’ll understand if you don’t want to.”
“Okay…when?”
Buffy cheered within. “This evening?”
“Could you make it tomorrow evening? I’m kind of beat…we had this memorial thing at school today.”
“Sure…I’ll meet you about seven at the coffee place in the high street.” Buffy untwisted the wire from her fingers and folded the number up.
“Seven, okay.” He went quiet for a moment; so quiet Buffy thought he had gone. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, see ya.” Buffy placed the receiver down and slid the number into the side pocket of her bag just as Xander and Cordy burst through the door, Willow sat up startled on the bed. “Hi guys.”
Willow dropped head back to the pillows, she didn’t look happy.
“What’s up, Will?” Buffy asked and turned to look at her. “Anything I can help you with?”
“It’s Alex.”
Xander groaned. “Will, you don’t wanna bother with him, he’s totally weird.” Buffy glared at him, Xander just raised his eyebrows.
“What’s he done?” She asked.
Willow stared at the ceiling and rolled her eyes. “All I did was call him and told him…it doesn’t matter.” Buffy smiled. “I asked him if he wanted to meet up and talk, but he said no…he had a memorial service at school or something.”
“Will, it’s understandable he didn’t want to talk much…he’s still getting over what happened.”
“But I thought if he could talk to someone it would help…or-” She paused and bit her lip. “It would help wouldn’t it?”
Buffy nodded, now she felt really bad, Alex had turned Willow down but said yes to her. Willow was the one who liked him, Buffy just wanted to know what was going on. It all seemed very wrong.
* * *
Buffy crossed the walkway and reached the coffee shop, it was dark now but the glow of the street lamps and fairy lights in the trees outside the coffee shop made it look romantic, she shook her head, she couldn’t think about romance, and especially romantic interludes with Alex. But of course she never would think about anything like that, Willow was the one that liked him, not her and she had to get that into her head.
Just as she reached the door to the coffee shop she was tapped on the shoulder, she turned and came face to face with Alex, and he looked seriously ill. “Are you okay?” She asked quickly, and ushered him to a table just behind them.
He sat down and ran his hands through his hair, then looked her straight in the eyes. “It’s my friend…Tod…he’s dead.”
Buffy’s mouth dropped open, she hadn’t expected that. “The one that got off the plane with you? Tod…Waggner?” She’d got to know all their names now, after researching the crash.
Alex nodded. “His dad said he killed himself, guilt over what had happened or something. But I don’t believe he’d do that…I mean…he made plans with me!” He dropped his head to the table. “He thinks I’m some sort of physic or summit now, like I can read minds or…”
“Did you see something?” Buffy asked softly and reached for her purse, she needed a coffee now.
Alex slowly lifted his head from the table and looked at her again, she could tell in his eyes that he had known something. He reached into his shirt pocket and slid a tiny piece of paper across the table. Buffy studied it, it was from a magazine and had the letters T-O-D printed on it…Tod.
“So you didn’t see anything?” She asked staring at the piece of paper in utter bewilderment. “Where did this come from?”
To be continued...