Hypatia had been sat with Samantha in the study focusing on the scene at the pub when she was suddenly on her feet and running for the hallway after hearing Sheana shouting for some help with Prue.

     “Prue’s been stabbed with a silver blade!” Sheana said in a panic. “I need to blink back and help Sara.” Sheana added as she turned to blink back to the pub, just as Sara appeared on the floor in the hallway.

    Sara wasn’t moving which worried Sheana and the others. Hypatia picked Sara up while Sheana and Samantha helped get Prue up to the healing room. Hypatia lay Sara on the bed in the middle of the room and then put a hand to Sara’s forehead before focusing on making Sara’s slayer armour retract for her using her mind link.

     “You foolish child. I warned you not to fight him like this.” Hypatia said to the unconscious girl.

     “Will she be okay?” Sheana asked once she and Samantha got Prue sat in a chair so Hypatia could pull the stake out and help to heal the wound.

     “We’ll know better once she wakes up, but from what I sensed in her mind as Spike kicked her in the back, I think her back has been broken.” Hypatia said looking worried.

And now the story continues...

    Sara felt something touch her forehead and she tried to fight them off, but soon stopped when she heard her mum’s voice talking to her softly, Sara could tell her mum had been crying by the tone and the odd snuffle here and there.

     “You’re safe now baby, safe at Hypatia’s.” Karen said as she wiped Sara’s face with a cool damp cloth.

     “What happened mum?” Sara asked still a little fuzzy on the details of the fight back at the pub with Spike. “Why can’t I feel my legs mum?” Sara asked with panic in her voice as she tried to sit up.

     “Just relax for now honey. I’ll explain it to you later.” Karen said as she stopped Sara from sitting up.

     “I’m paralyzed aren’t I?” Sara asked in a calm voice as she let her head drop back to the pillow. “I remember the pain I felt now, just before my legs stopped working.” Sara said still using a calm voice.

     “We can talk about it later.” Karen said avoiding the question her daughter just asked.

     “Just tell me the truth!” Sara snapped. “I’ll never walk again will I?” Sara asked as she started sobbing.

     “Don’t talk like that honey! We have no idea how your body will respond once you’re back to normal.” Karen said as she pulled Sara up into a hug with her as they both sobbed.

    Sara and her mum were soon looking over to the other side of the room where Sheana, Prue, Sandy and Samantha were all stood arguing about something in whispers.

     “What’s wrong with them?” Sara asked once they had both stopped sobbing.

     “Sandy, Prue and Samantha are all arguing who’s going to take your place until you’re back on your feet.” Karen frowned.

     “What! Take my place as the Slayer?” Sara asked looking a little shocked.

     “No silly, take your place going to school to stop the men in black putting the pieces together and working out that you’re the Slayer.” Karen explained.

     “How would they know anything happened to me or the Slayer in the first place?” Sara asked as she managed to drag herself up into a sitting position as she looked at her legs and tried to make them move, but nothing happened.

     “Michelle’s been keeping an eye on their emails and video feeds. Word soon spread about Spike taking care of the Slayer.” Karen growled at the thought of this nasty man hurting her daughter.

     “It’s final! I’ll do it.” Sandy’s voice clearly said above all the others, just before she turned and saw Sara sat up in bed looking at her with a smile. “Sara! You’re finally awake you lazy sod!” Sandy added as she ran over to the bed and threw her arms around her baby sister. Sara knew Sandy was worried about her, because she only ever used words like that when she was.

     “So I gather you’re going back to school then big sister?” Sara asked. “I’m sure we can come up with some story to cover for me being in a wheelchair, if you don’t want to do this.” Sara said to give Sandy an easy way out.

     “There will be a couple of us doing it sis, but I’ll be doing the main stint to start with.” Sandy said as she kept hugging her baby sister. “Michelle and Jo want to help out as well, so it will be fine until we get you back on your feet.” Sandy added with a stern look.

     “If I ever get back on my feet again.” Sara said looking a little gloomy at the thought of being stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

     “Don’t even think like that!” Sandy snapped. “You’ll be back on your feet and back out there slaying the vampires in no time.” Sandy added as she poked Sara in the chest.

    Sara found herself wanting to believe her sister was right. She wanted another go at Spike, but not until she had her slayer power back, and full use of her legs, if she ever got full or part use of them back.

     “How do you all plan to go to school as me, if Sheana can’t charm a ring or something to let you look like me?” Sara asked wanting to change the subject away from her lack of a working set of legs.

     “Sheana suited up earlier and charmed a ring and a locket. Then Hypatia had to carry her over to the bed so she could rest for a couple of hours.” Sandy said with a frown. “We’ve had to stop Sheana from trying to heal you a couple of times already.” Sandy added.

     “I’ll be fine again soon sis.” Sara said as she smiled at Sheana stood over with Samantha and Hypatia.

    Sheana saw this as a sign it was okay for her to come over and get a hug, so Sara was soon hugging a sobbing Sheana as she fell on the bed. “I’m sorry I failed you sis, please forgive me?” Sheana sobbed.

     “I don’t blame you for this Sheana, so it’s hard for me to forgive you.” Sara smiled as she broke the hug with Sheana and looked her in the eyes. “I saw you blink Prue to safety, how is she doing?”

     “I’m doing just fine, worry about getting back on your feet, so I can watch you stake that sorry piece of Sh...” Prue said from the doorway just as Jenna slapped her on the arm she had in a sling. “Ouch!” Prue said looking down at her baby sister.

     “I warn you about using words like dat around me.” Jenna said with her nose in the air just before she grinned at Sara and ran over to give her a special get well hug.

     “Hi Jen bear. I hope you’ve been looking after them all for me while I was sleeping?” Sara asked as she sat Jenna on her knee and hugged her.

     “I do my best Sara, but you know what grownups like for being silly.” Jenna said with a roll of the eyes just before she started hugging Sara again. “Please get well again soon Sara.” Jenna added as she started sobbing. Jenna could read the worry in Sara’s mid, and was reacting to that as she sobbed.

     “I’ll do my very best Jen bear.” Sara said as she hugged the little girl while she sobbed. “I thought you’d be fully healed again by now Prue.” Sara added as she watched Prue walk over to the bed and sit on the edge of it next to Sandy.

     “Silver stakes take longer to recover from.” Prue pointed out. “I feel like such a fool.” Prue added with a wince as she tried to move the shoulder she’d been stabbed in.

     “You feel like a fool? How do you think I feel?” Sara said as she tapped the side of her left leg, still not feeling anything below the waist. “At least you got to walk away from it.” Sara added.

     “I didn’t mean that Sara. I feel like a fool because I forgot to put my protection charm on when I got changed.” Prue said as she looked down at her lap in shame. “That silver spike never should have touched me, and I forgot all about it until I felt it dig into my shoulder.” Prue added with another wince as she felt more pain stab through her shoulder.

    Sara was just about to speak when she heard someone running towards the room. She smiled when she saw it was Jo. The smile soon faded when she saw how angry he was with her. “Hi Jo.” Sara smiled, hoping to calm him a little before he exploded.

     “I told you not to face him without your powers! Now look at you.” Jo snapped as he ran over to the bed and pulled Sara into a hug as he started sobbing as well. Sara was shocked to see Jo show his emotions like this with a room full of people watching.

     “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you Jo, but I had to try and stop him killing anyone else.” Sara said as she wrapped her arms around Jo and hugged him while he got it out his system.

     “You are going to get better, and then you will show that blood sucker just what a Slayer can do.” Jo said once he’d got his emotions under control again.

     “Yes sir!” Sara giggled as she snapped him a salute. Sara liked this bossy side of Jo, just like she also liked his more gentle said when he put on the ring and became Josie for her.

     “Now Sara’s awake, I think we could all use something to eat.” Hypatia said.

    Jo was soon lifting Sara out the bed and placing her in a wheelchair. He then claimed pushing rights as they followed Hypatia to a lift she had down to the ground floor of her mansion. Once Jo and Sara were in the lift heading down with Jenna sat on Sara’ knee hugging her. The others all went down the stairs.

     “How did you all get here?” Sara asked as they all took a seat in the large kitchen while Samantha and Karen set to work making them all something to eat.

     “Mum drove us here and Sheana blinked Jo and Michelle here.” Sandy explained.

     “Scared me half to death when I was woken to the sight of Sheana in her witch disguise slapping a hand over my mouth to stop me screaming.” Jo chuckled as he thought about it. “I soon got over it though when she said you’d been hurt in the fight with Spike.” Jo added as he looked down at Sara’s legs in the wheelchair.

    Sara knew she had to be strong, if only to keep her family and friends from worrying about her. “I’ll be back on my feet in no time.” Sara said as she took hold of Jo’s hand and smiled at him.

    Karen and Samantha were soon bringing the first plate of bacon sandwiches over to the table for everyone to help themselves. Sara was actually quite hungry, so she was the first to take a couple and start munching on them, this soon made the others relax enough to take one. They were soon feeling full and a lot happier to see Sara at least up and eating, even if she was doing it while being sat in a wheelchair.

     “I’m sorry to do this, but we better see about getting off, or you’ll all be late for school.” Karen said as she looked at the time. “We also need to get Jo home before his parents realise he’s not in his room.” Karen added as she looked at Sheana for some assistants with that one.

    Sheana was soon suited up in her Black Witch disguise and holding out her hands to take Jo and Michelle home again. Sara gave each of them a hug just before she watched Sheana blink them all away.

    Prue and Jenna were going to be stopping at the mansion with Sara, while Karen was going to drive Sandy back home so she could pretend to be Sara until Sara was able to take over doing it again. Sara had tried to argue the fact that Jo and Mike/Michelle were also going to spend some time as her. She was worried about them losing time at School, but none of them would listen to her, so Sara knew she had to focus on getting well again.

    Sara gave her mum and sister a hug before watching them drive away from the top step of the entrance to the mansion. Hypatia then pushed Sara back into her home so she could be returned to the healing bed for some much needed rest.

    Sheana had blinked Jo home and then blinked Michelle home so she could become Mike again for school. Sheana had sat on Michelle’s bed and watched as she put on her ring and she morphed back into Mike. Sheana found it hard to contain her emotions once she saw Mike stood in the middle of the room, so she started sobbing again, as she jumped up and threw herself into his arms.

    Mike just hugged her as she sobbed. He knew the sight of seeing Sara stuck in the wheelchair had been a lot for any of them to take in. Once Sheana had stopped sobbing and pulled herself together again, Mike finished getting ready for school and then Sheana blinked them over to her home, so she could take a shower and get read herself.

    Sandy and Karen were stood in the bedroom talking to Mike when Sheana got done in the bathroom. Sandy was just about to place the ring on her finger. Sandy took a couple of deep breaths and then she slipped the ring onto her finger. Due to Sandy and Sara looking so much alike anyway, the changes didn’t take long. Sandy still looked a little freaked out though when she looked in the mirror and saw her baby sister looking back at her.

     “This feels so weird.” Sandy said sounding just like Sara now. “I hope we can pull this off.” Sandy added with some doubt in her voice, or Sara’s voice.

     “You’ll do just fine sweetie.” Karen said as she pulled Sandy/Sara into a hug. “Sheana, Mike and Jo will be there to help you deal with it.” Karen added as she kissed Sandy/Sara on the forehead.

    Sandy giggled as she hadn’t felt her mum do that in some time. “I miss you doing that mum.” Sandy/Sara smiled.

     “I thought you’d gotten too old for it, so I stopped, but I’ll try and remember to do it now and again once you’re back to the Sandy you.” Karen smiled as she stepped back and let Sandy/Sara get dressed for school.

    Sheana and Sandy/Sara were soon dressed and walking into the kitchen where Mike was sat with Karen while they waited for them to get dressed. They had no sooner entered the kitchen than the doorbell sounded, telling them someone was at the front door. Already being on her feet Sandy/Sara went to answer it only to find a shocked looking Jo stood there looking at her like he’d just seen a ghost.

     “Sara?” Jo said as his mouth hung open in shock.

     “Yes, sort of.” Sandy/Sara said sounding cryptic as she held up the hand with the charmed ring on it.

    The light bulb came on in Jo’s eyes as he remembered the ring Sheana had charmed to make it so one of them could pretend to be Sara until she was on her feet again. Jo found himself wishing that he’d soon be seeing the real Sara stood where Sandy/Sara was stood at the minute. “Sorry Sandy, but it’s just a little weird seeing my girlfriend stood there, but it’s not my girlfriend stood there.” Jo said looking confused himself with what he just said.

    Sandy/Sara suddenly looked worried when Jo said the word ‘girlfriend’ She realised that Sara and Jo were an item, so she’d have to pretend to be an item as well. “I think we might need to break up, or at least have an argument in public, so we don’t have to act all lovey duvey.” Sandy/Sara pointed out.

    Jo looked shocked again for a couple of seconds until his brain kicked in and understood what Sandy/Sara was getting at. He didn’t fancy the idea of making out with Sandy, even if she did look like Sara at the minute. “Okay, sounds good to me, but we need to do it after we get to school, so all the students can see it happen.” Jo said.

     “Cool! I’ll even add a slap across the face and some name calling. You can just say it’s that time of the month. Most students understand that one.” Sandy/Sara said with a roll of her eyes.

    Jo was soon chuckling as he realised Sandy and Sara were more alike than he’d first realised. “You really do look like Sara when you do that.” Jo chuckled some more as Sandy/Sara let him into the house.

    Sandy/Sara and Jo explained their plan to Sheana and Mike before they left the house. They all thought it was a good plan because it meant that they would still hang out together, due to Sheana and Mike being an item still, but would also explain the reason for Sara being in a mood and acting different towards Jo.

     “Have a fun day at school.” Karen said to Sheana and Sandy/Sara as she waved them off at the front door. Karen returned to the kitchen after waving the small group off up the street, she then fell in a chair and started sobbing herself now she was alone in the house.

    Sandy/Sara walked with Sheana, while Jo and Mike walked together just behind. Jo didn’t want to risk doing anything that would weird Sandy out while she was pretending to be Sara, so they all thought it the best way to walk to school.

    They were soon walking into the school grounds, and were glad that Sandy was pretending to be Sara, as there seemed to be a larger number of vans and other people doing things around the school. Sandy picked a nice public spot to throw her fit and turn on Jo.

     “You can be such a pig Jo Norman!” Sandy/Sara shouted just before she raised her hand and slapped Jo right across the face leaving him looking totally shocked. Sandy/Sara then stormed off with Sheana running to catch up.

    Jo and Mike were left stood in the middle of a large group of students being looked at as Jo rubbed the side of his face. “Wrong time of the month!” Jo laughed as he made a quick exit to the knowing looks of the other students, both male and female. “Remind me never to piss Sara’s sister off for real.” Jo whispered to Mike once they were far enough away from the large group still looking and talking about the world class slap.

    Sheana soon caught up with Sandy/Sara and then led her in the right direction for their homeroom. “Do you think Jo will be alright sis?” Sandy/Sara asked looking worried. “I hit him a lot harder than I wanted to.” She added with a wince.

     “I thought that you wanted it to look real anyway, and it did that.” Sheana giggled as she thought about the shocked look on Jo’s face when Sandy/Sara slapped him after calling him a pig.

    Sandy/Sara was soon letting Sheana speak to the other students before she did, so Sheana could say the other student’s name for her. Sandy thought the school was just like the one she went to when she was Sara’s age, so she was ready for the different groups of people hanging out.

    The morning went okay, and Sandy/Sara was getting to know the other students. They met up with Mike and Jo for lunch. Sara acted a little distant from Jo, but it added to the whole story that had got around about the two of them splitting up. Sandy/Sara had already been asked out by three other boys by the time lunchtime came around.

     “Sorry for slapping you so hard Jo.” Sandy/Sara said once they were away from the other students and under their favourite tree.

    Mike had turned up the power on his signal blocker, so they could talk freely about the real Sara, and how they all thought she was coping with what happened to her.

     “Don’t worry about it Sara.” Jo said, keeping things simple by just using the name of the person Sandy was pretending to be. “It helped sell the story to the others.” Jo added as he rubbed the spot where Sandy had slapped him, even though it had been a couple of hours now since she did it.

     “I’ve already been asked out by three boys.” Sandy/Sara said with a grin. “Not that I plan to go out with any of them.” Sandy/Sara added when she saw the hurt look on Jo’s face.

     “Not even to keep it looking like we’ve broke up?” Jo mumbled, still looking worried that Sandy might go out on a date with one of them.

     “I’m just here to make up the numbers and keep my sister’s face showing up around school. I have no plans to do anything crazy like lead some guy on when I know my sister loves you Jo.” Sandy/Sara said looking very serious. “I’m going to drive over to see Sara after school; I trust you three will be coming along?” Sandy/Sara asked, trying to change the subject a little.

     “I trust you will be changing first?” Mike asked with a grin. “Not sure Sara wants driving without a license added to the list of trouble’s she’s dealing with right now.” Mike added.

     “I better then hadn’t I?” Sandy/Sara giggled as she looked down at her school uniform.

    Sara wanted to wallow in self pity for a while, but Jenna wouldn’t let her, and soon Sara was actually having fun colouring and playing various board games with the little girl. The only worrying thing for Sara was the fact they had her hooked up with tubes to drain of any unwanted fluids. Samantha had taken the day off from work to help keep an eye on Sara and Prue with some help from Hypatia. Sara wasn’t happy about this part of the being looked after, but she knew it was better than making a mess in her wheelchair.

     “How you feeling now Sara?” Prue asked as she joined her and Jenna out in the gardens. “I hope this little monster isn’t being too much trouble?” Prue giggled as she started to tickle Jenna with her good arm.

     “About as well as can be expected given the state I’m in.” Sara said tapping her legs. “Jenna is the only thing stopping me from going mad right now.” Sara added with a grin as she watched the way Prue loved to play and tease her baby sister.

     “Most would say that the other way around, and think she was driving them mad.” Prue giggled some more as she carried on tickling Jenna with her one good arm.

    Jenna managed to break free from Prue and jumped up on Sara’s knee. “Save me Sara, save me from my mean big sister.” Jenna said as she turned her head to look at Prue, just before she stuck her tongue out at her.

    Sara was glad to be able to still hug Jenna, even if she couldn’t chase her around like she use to. “How’s the shoulder?” Sara asked as she wrapped her arms around Jenna in a protective hug.

     “Getting better, but it will be a couple of days before it’s fully healed.” Prue said with a sigh. “I still can’t believe I forgot to put my protection charm back on before we left the house.” Prue growled as she slammed her hand down on the table, putting a crack in it.

     “I should make you pay for that Prudence.” Hypatia said as she walked over to the table with a tray full of sandwiches, while Samantha followed just behind with a tray of drinks for them all.

     “Sorry Tia. I’ll be happy to play you for it.” Prue said looking a little sheepish about what she’d just done. “I’m still a little upset with myself for getting hurt.” Prue added as she lifted her arm in the sling trying to point out what Hypatia already knew.

     “You should have known better than to let Spike get the upper hand on you Prudence, and you should never have turned your back on him either Sara.” Hypatia scolded them both. “You should have both been ready for anything he threw at you.” She added as she handed them both a plate with some sandwiches on. Sara had more on hers than Prue, but then she was going to be sharing them with Jenna, who had turned around and was now sat sideways on Sara’s knee with the plate on her knee ready to feed them both.

     “It won’t happen again Hypatia. That’s if I get another chance to face him.” Sara said with a sigh just before Jenna made her take a bite from a sandwich before taking a bite herself. “I am able to feed myself you know.” Sara giggled after chewing and swallowing the bite Jenna had just made her take.

     “I knows, but I’s want to help you’s get better.” Jenna said in a bossy tone as she made Sara take another bite.

     “Your slayer powers are already coming back and healing you Sara, so I have a good feeling you will be back on your feet in no time.” Hypatia said with confidence. “You had a good sized bruise when I removed you helmet, when you first arrived after the fight, but you would never know now that you had ever been in a fight, if not for the wheelchair.” Hypatia added as she pointed at the wheelchair Sara was sat in.

     I think healing some bruises is a lot simpler than trying to fix a broken spine.” Sara pointed out, not wanting to fill herself with false hope.

    Hypatia could see that Sara didn’t want to talk about her walking again one day soon, so she decided to approach Sara helping Samantha with something else while she was stopping at the mansion.

     “I was wondering if you felt up to giving us a hand to monitor the men in black?” Hypatia asked. “It’s all computer stuff, so you could even sit out here and do it while making the most of the sunshine.” Hypatia added.

     Sara wanting to be doing something to feel useful, nodded and then waited for Samantha to run off and return with a fancy looking laptop for her to use. Samantha spent a little time showing Sara what she needed to do and then she left Sara and Jenna to go through the footage and emails they had managed to steal from the men in black’s feeds at school and also while out in their vans patrolling.

    The two of them had been looking at different bits for some time when Sara found a message addressed to the commander, so she looked at it and found it to be footage of the fight she’d had with Spike, so she pressed play and started to watch it. Sara shuddered when she saw Spike plant his foot in her back. She still remembered the pain she felt, but now she knew what had caused it.

     “You not watch that again Sara.” Jenna said as she closed down the file. “Dat Spike mean man.” Jenna added with a pout.

     “Yes he is.” Sara said as she pulled Jenna in for a hug, but she was distracted by the fact the men in black had footage of the fight, that would mean they knew about the demon hang out and let it carry on, but she couldn’t work out why. “I wonder if Hypatia knows about this?” Sara thought to herself.

     “I not think she be happy about it if she did Sara.” Jenna answered.

     “What has Prue warned you about nosing around in other people’s thoughts?” Sara said as she looked Jenna in the eyes. “You know how upset she gets with you.” Sara lightly scolded her.

     “I not do anyfing.” Jenna whined. “You talk to me dat way.” Jenna added as she tapped the side of her head with a finger.

     “I did?” Sara asked looking puzzled. “So you can hear me now?” Sara thought to Jenna.

     “Yes.” Jenna giggled. “Does this mean you get your powers back?” Jenna asked with a grin.

    Eager to find out if she did have her mind power back, and it wasn’t just a fluke thing between her and Jenna. Sara closed her eyes and reached out to see if she could find any of the others in the mansion. She was soon sat on the edge of Prue’s thoughts as she sat in the fighting room trying to work out why she wasn’t able to kill spike. Sara stopped there for a little time watching Prue go over the short fight she had with Spike just before he got the silver spike from her and then drove it into her shoulder.

     “She not happy Spike got better of her, and she forgets to pick up pretty necklace.” Jenna said with a sigh as she tagged along on Sara’s mind trip around the mansion.

     “She just needs some time, and a second shot at him.” Sara said. “I know how she feels.” Sara added with an edge of anger in her voice as she thought about the video she’d just seen of Spike slamming his boot into her back.

     “I think you be getting some of your other powers backs to Sara.” Jenna said breaking Sara out of her thoughts and what she’d like to do to Spike when she saw him again.

    Sara looking at Jenna, and then down at the arm of the wheelchair where the little girl was now looking. Sara let her mouth fall open when she saw that the arm of the wheelchair had been crushed to match the shape of her closed fist that was still gripping it. Sara had crushed it between her fingers like it was play-doh. She prised her hand free of the crushed arm rest and then started grinning as she grabbed Jenna and threw her up in the air before catching her again.

    Jenna suddenly didn’t look as excited about Sara having her strength back as she did a second ago. Jenna clung onto Sara while looking scared she might throw her up again. “Jenna not like that Sara. You not do again otay?” Jenna asked in a shaky voice.

     “I’m sorry Jen bear; I got a little carried away Sara said as she hugged the shaking little girl in her arms.

     “Jenna thought she getting thrown away.” Jenna said as she cuddled into Sara even more.

     “I’d never do that sweetheart.” Sara pouted. “And I did catch you again.” Sara pointed out.

    Sara decided to reach out and see if Samantha and Hypatia were available to her. She soon found Samantha pouring over some device she was working on in her lab. Sara didn’t stop with her thoughts for long, due to it being like a washing machine on a spin cycle.

     “No wonder she doesn’t sleep with all that going on in there.” Sara thought to Jenna as they left Samantha’s mind.

     “Why you not get in trouble for being nosey?” Jenna asked with a pout as they left Samantha to her crazy thoughts while they went to see if Hypatia was available to chat.

     “I probably would if they knew I was there Jen bear, but I’m just doing a field test of my power.” Sara tried to explain.

     “If we’s get caught den, you can takes the blames for it.” Jenna thought as she let Sara carry on her testing.

     “Thanks a lot partner.” Sara thought back with a giggle.

     “No partner, you in charge, me just following like a good little girl.” Sara could hear the smug little grin in Jenna’s voice as she said it.

    Sara just smiled to herself as she reached out and soon found herself stood at the large stone wall that kept everyone out of Hypatia’s mind. Sara formed an image of herself and then Jenna, as they walked along the wall until they came to the large wooden doors and the button that said, ‘For the Slayer’s use only’ So Sara pushed the button and then waited for Hypatia to let them in.

    It didn’t take long for the doors to open and a smiling Hypatia to welcome them inside. “I see someone is getting their gifts returned to them.” Hypatia smiled as she gave each of them a mental hug as she led them out to the mind version of the garden they were already sat in.

     “Yes I am.” Sara smiled; glad to be walking again, even if it was only in a mental version of the garden. Sara giggled as she started chasing Jenna around as they both had fun laughing and squealing. “My strength is returning as well.” Sara added as she showed Hypatia an image of the arm rest on the wheelchair she’d just crushed in her hand.

     “I don’t think it’ll be long before you’re doing this again in the real world.” Hypatia pointed to the fact that Sara was running around after Jenna still.

     “I really hope you’re right. This feels wonderful after being stuck in the wheelchair most the day.” Sara said as she looked down at her bare feet and wiggling her toes in the grass.

     “Until you’re back on your feet in the real world Sara, we could train in here to keep you up to speed, and I can also show you some new moves to stop this terrible thing happening again.” Hypatia suggested.

     “That sounds like a great idea.” Sara said with a big grin on her face. “This feels so real to me that I could almost forget what’s happened to me out in the real world.” Sara added with a sigh.

    Sara chased Jenna around for another ten minutes before she remembered the reason for seeking out Hypatia, so she led Jenna over to the table where Hypatia had gone and sat down, so she could ask her about the men in black having footage of her getting beaten by Spike the night before.

     “I sense that something troubles you child.” Hypatia said after she watched Sara take a seat and then pull Jenna up onto her knee for a cuddle.

     “It does. I was wondering if you’d looked at any of the latest footage we acquired from the men in black?” Sara asked.

     “No, Sammi normally comes to me with anything she thinks I need to know about, so I can then decide what to do about it.” Hypatia said as she looked more interested in whatever Sara had found. “What have you found?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.

     “The Commander had people at Armen’s pub last night, and they filmed me getting beaten by Spike.”

     “The Commander must have demon spies working for him.” Hypatia said looking angry. “Armen has mind readers working in his little tavern, just to stop evidence getting out.” She added through gritted teeth.

     “What can you do about it now? If you approach this Armen, the men in black will find out about us hacking into their system.” Sara pointed out.

     “You leave that to me my dear. I want you to focus on getting well again, so you can put a stop to Spike and his witch.”

     “Do you have some time to do some mental training now? I’d like to stretch my mind so to speak.” Sara said as she got up and then morphed into her Slayer form.

     “I’d be happy to train with you Sara, but please stop if you start to feel tired. You are still a long way from being recovered.” Hypatia warned.

    Sara and Hypatia started training while Jenna slipped out and curled up on Sara’s knee like she was a kitten, and was soon fast asleep. Sara and Hypatia trained for a couple of hours before Sara needed to stop and get some rest out in the real world.

    The Commander burst into the command centre looking for answers. He’d got all his people working on keeping track of where this Spike might be, and also finding out if any of the students or teachers were missing from school, or injured. He could tell from the video a couple of his spies had taken the night before that this Slayer had been hurt bad and almost killed by this vampire calling himself Spike.

     “Speak to me people! What do we know?” He asked.

     “The vampire Spike has vanished, and we can’t find any students or teachers missing from school, or hurt in anyway. The only student missing is the one that put up the posters around the school, and she’s been in the psyche ward since the police took her away yesterday.” One of the techs explained.

     “There’s no way that’s the same Slayer that fought me the other day sir.” Karl said as he pointed at the footage being shown on repeat. He’d been given the all clear to leave the medical section, but not the base. Karl was just glad to be out of the white room and helping out where ever he could.

     “Maybe this Spike has some form of Slayer kryptonite.” The Commander thought out loud. “If he has some way to even the playing field with this Slayer, then I want to know what it is.” The commander added.

     “I think we’ve seen the last of the Slayer sir, looking at that video of him breaking her back.” Karl said as he pointed at Spike stamping his foot into the Slayers back, and her screaming out in pain as her legs went limp. “Looks like he took care of the vampire called Prue as well.” Karl added as he watched Prue get a silver stake plunged into her shoulder.

     “I’ll believe that when you show me the two dead bodies, or one dead body and a pile of ash in the vampire’s case.” The Commander said. “And we still have the witch, and this Spike to deal with.” He added as he pointed at the witch dressed all in black just before she vanished from the pub, taking Prue with her.

     “I find it hard to believe the Slayer goes to the school after seeing that footage sir. There’s no way she’d be up and walking about today if she was.” Karl said as he looked at live feeds from the school.

     “I’m inclined to agree with you, but I would still like to know why we were getting such strong readings from the place to begin with, and also why the Slayer and her witch were so eager to get their hands on the portable mass storage device.” The Commander said looking to be deep in thought again.

     “Part of me was hoping the Slayer would win against this Spike, because I don’t know how we’re going to stop him ourselves.” Karl said with a sigh.

     “The only reason we had a problem last time was because we tried to take him alive. I’ve given the go ahead to use silver tipped bullets on this one.” The Commander informed Karl. “Silver bullets will put him down long enough for us to get him locked up and drugged, but if we kill him doing it, then no big loss.” The Commander added with a shrug that told Karl he wasn’t to bothered either way.

    Karl was soon up to his neck in paperwork as he worked with the Commander and the others in the command centre trying to track down Spike, and also look for clues as to who the Slayer might be at the school.

    Sara was asleep on a sofa in the living room at the mansion with Jenna cuddled up to her when she felt someone stroking her hair. She cracked open one of her eyes and smiled when she saw Jo looking at her smiling.

     “Hi baby.” Sara croaked out as she gave Jo a sleepy smile. She never bothered trying to move. Hypatia had helped her get on the sofa in the first place, just before Jenna jumped on there with her.

     “How are you feeling now?” Jo asked looking worried.

     “I’m getting my powers back.” Sara thought to Jo, making him jump when he heard Sara’s voice in his head.

     “That’s great!” Jo said out loud, getting odd looks from Sheana, Sandy and Michelle. “I’ve not lost my marbles; Sara has her mind power back.” Jo said with a grin when he saw the worried looks.

     “That’s great sis! Do you feel any change in your legs then as well?” Sandy asked looking hopeful.

     “No, nothing yet, but it’s still early days yet.” Sara pointed out, not wanting to lose hope just yet. “How was school? Did I have a good time?” Sara asked with a giggle.

     “We had a falling out with Jo.” Sandy said with a grin.

     “And you slapped me as you called me a pig.” Jo grumbled as he rubbed his face where Sandy/Sara had let rip with the stinging blow.

     “Why did you do that sis?!” Sara asked looking shocked to hear what her sister had done to Jo.

    The sudden outburst woke Jenna. “What wrong Sara?” Jenna asked as she sat up and started rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Sheana!” Jenna shouted just before she leapt off the sofa right into Sheana’s arms, knocking her over on the living room floor.

     “Hi Jen bear. Have you been looking after Sara for me?” Sheana asked as she wrapped the little girl in a hug.

     “I try my best Sheana, but she started running around with Tia, den I gets tired and fall asleeps.” Jenna explained as she cuddled into Sheana who had managed to sit the two of them back up again while Jenna spoke.

     “You were running around?” Jo asked as he looked down at Sara’s legs, waiting for her to move them.

     “I was training in here Jo.” Sara said as she tapped a finger to her head. “I still have no feeling in my real legs, but in my mind, I can run around and do all the things I use to be able to do out here.” Sara added with a sigh.

     “And you will again.” Sandy said with a determined look on her face as she looked Sara in the eyes.

     “I hope so sis, but can we get back to the reason for you slapping my boyfriend while pretending to be me?” Sara asked with a frown.

    Sandy and Jo explained the reason for the slap and the very public break up. Sara could see the reason for it, and was glad her sister wasn’t getting all cosy with Jo. Once they had done explaining what had happened through the day at school, Sandy went to help Samantha and Prue sort out some dinner for them all. They all sat down to eat when Karen arrived, and she’d had ten minutes to check on Sara’s well being.

     “I’m sorry to be such a pain Sandy, but I will need you to let Jo or Michelle play Sara tomorrow. We need to go into the studio for the day, or people will start to talk, and not in a good way.” Samantha frowned. “As far as they know we were both out looking at new fabrics today, but if we’re away for two days in a row, or I start giving you time off, well you get the picture right?” Samantha asked.

     “Yes I understand Samantha.” Sandy smiled. “Which one of you wants to play Sara then?” Sandy asked as she looked at Jo and Michelle.

     “I’d normally jump at the chance to help out, and spend the day as a girl, but I have a test on advanced computer science tomorrow. It makes up a large part of my grade for the year, and I can’t retake it.” Michelle explained.

     “It looks like I get to walk a mile in your shoes then.” Jo said with a nervous chuckle as he looked at Sara. His face suddenly turned to one of shock when he realised what he’d just said about walking in her shoes. “I’m so sorry Sara; I didn’t mean it like that. I can be such an idiot.” Jo scolded himself as he smacked himself in the forehead.

     “Hey! Don’t worry about it.” Sara said calmly as she took hold of his hand and smiled at him. “I know you didn’t mean it in a nasty way, and I plan to be walking in them shoes again one day soon.” Sara said with a grin to show Jo she wasn’t mad or upset with him over the comment.

     “I hope I can pull off being you for the day.” Jo said looking more than a little worried about his adventure in being a school girl the next day.

     “Don’t forget that I’ll be able to help you out.” Sara smiled. Jo just sat looking at Sara with a blank look on his face. “I have my mind power back, so I can tag along and talk you through any tough spots you might get into.” Sara explained.

     “Why don’t we just call it telepathy, or thought-transference? After all that is what you’re doing Sara.” Hypatia smiled. “Mind power makes it sound like something evil.” She added with a giggle.

     “What about calling it ‘Mind Mojo’?” Jo said in a spooky voice as he looked all crazy with wide creepy eyes.

     “That could work, if she was called Sara the Great, and she also did card tricks, and pulled rabbits from hats.” Hypatia giggled. “I think telepathy will work just fine.” She added.

     “Why would you want to put a rabbit in a hat to begin with?” Sheana asked, having never seen a magician do a magic act.

    This made everyone laugh, and Jenna then spent some time explaining to Sheana what Hypatia was getting at. Sheana liked the idea of putting on her own magic show for Jenna sometime, but she would wait for Sara to get back on her feet, so they could plan it out together.

    It was soon time for Karen, Sandy, Michelle, Jo and Sheana to leave. Sheana was going to blink back once they had got Michelle home. Sara, Jenna and Prue were all stopping at the mansion until they were fully healed. Sheana didn’t want to spend a night alone in her and Sara’s bedroom. Too much time trapped in the ring as a genie had left Sheana craving the company of others around her all the time.

    Sara gave her mum and sister a hug before pulling Jo close for a much longer hug and kiss goodbye. Then she sighed as she watched her mum drive away in her car and then Sandy in hers with Jo, Sheana and Michelle sat in it, all waving at her sat at the top of the steps to the mansion with Hypatia and the others all stood around her waving back.

    Sheana blinked into the hallway at the mansion some time later and then made her way up to the bedroom Hypatia had set aside for them to use. Sheana’s powers were also returning now she was over her dreaded time of the month. She was now able to do magic again without the suit, and she had blinked back under her own steam.

    Sara and Jenna were already in bed waiting for Sheana when she entered the room. Sheana started grinning just before she clicked her fingers and suddenly went from being fully dressed to being dressed in her night clothes ready for bed.

     “I’m glad to see your powers returning as well sis.” Sara smiled as she watched Sheana slip into bed and cuddle up to Jenna who was already drifting off to sleep.

     “Me to sis. Soon I’ll be strong enough to help get you back on your feet.” Sheana said looking hopeful. “Then we track down and kill this Spike.” Sheana added with a growl in her voice.

    Sara couldn’t argue with that one and they all fell asleep snuggled up to each other. Sara couldn’t help but wonder just how well Jo would cope playing her for the day at school. She was glad she had her telepathy back, so she could see it for herself, and help him get through any sticky spots he might encounter.

To Be Continued Next Tuesday  

Story by SaraUK

Edited and Posted by SamanthaK