Fear Of Falling
By Boo

Title: Fear Of Falling
Headers in Part 1

PART FIVE

As Giles entered the Magic Shop Anya looked up from the register and smiled. Mr. O'Flynn came running over to him even before the door shut was shut.

"Mr. Giles! Mr. Giles, I'm so glad you're here," said Mr. O'Flynn excitedly. He wasn't slurring his words but Giles could smell the liquor on his breath.

"Good morning, Mr. O'Flynn," replied Giles, looking at his watch. It was only ten thirty.

"In that last book I bought there was a reference to a text that I'd never heard of before. Oh, what was it again? Ah yes. Drobnyk's Fundamentals of Resonant Invocation."

"Yes, I've heard of it. I'm afraid I don't have a copy of it at the moment. It's been out of print since 1980, if I remember correctly. I might be able to locate a copy of it if you wish," offered Giles.

"Oh. And how long do you think that might take?," asked Mr. O'Flynn nervously.

"Um...a week, perhaps two," shrugged Giles.

"Oh dear. That will not do...that won't do at all!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. O'Flynn, but..."

"No! You don't understand! There isn't enough time. I don't have enough time," emphasized Mr. O'Flynn.

"Mr. O'Flynn, are you in danger of some kind?," asked Giles politely but with concern.

"Well...since you asked...yes. Yes, I'm afraid I am," sighed Mr. O'Flynn.

"Please, sit down and we'll talk about it," said Giles, extending his arm towards the table. Mr. O'Flynn nodded and took a seat. Giles sat down opposite him.

"Maybe I can help you. What do you need that book for? Has someone threatened you?," asked Giles.

"Not someone, Mr. Giles. Some thing," said Mr. O'Flynn, staring at Giles to gauge his reaction. "More than one, I might add."

"I beg your pardon?," stammered Giles.

"Oh, come now, Mr. Giles. A man in your line of work knows there is more to Sunnydale than meets the eye. Especially after the sun sets," explained Mr. O'Flynn.

"Go on," encouraged Giles.

"I can see them. They don't know it. Not yet. But they will. Soon."

Mr. O'Flynn smiled as if he didn't have anything else to explain.

"Um...what exactly are we talking about?," asked Giles.

"The demons, of course."

"Ah, yes. Of course. And you said that you can see them?," asked Giles.

Mr. O'Flynn nodded.

"You find them in the most unlikely places. Why, I've even seen one or two in this very room," said Mr. O'Flynn.

"This...Mr. O'Flynn, please don't be offended by my asking this, but have you been drinking?"

"Um, well yes, yes I have been. But it's just a little hair of the dog. I admit that I am a little too familiar with the bottle, but after what I've seen, after what I've been through...you understand, don't you?," asked Mr. O'Flynn, just slightly embarrassed.

"I believe I do," smiled Giles. "But I still don't know what you need Drobnyk's book for. His theories have been discounted by most scholars of the occult."

"Mr. Giles, what I'm about to tell you...I only do so because I feel that I can trust you. You see, I'm under a curse."

"A curse," repeated Giles.

"Yes," nodded Mr. O'Flynn. "I dabble a little with the black arts. And, well, long story short, I got a certain witch very upset. Oh, it was an honest mistake, but...I won't bore you with the details. The thing is, I can see things. Call it demons, call it evil, it doesn't matter. I see it, like a black cancer eating away at a person. And once I see it I must destroy it, drive it from that person. Before it's too late."

"Too late?," sighed Giles, trying to humor the man.

"Mr. Giles, evil must not be allowed to live. Don't you see? I help them. Without me the evil would take over, would consume them! I am the Confessor."

This time Giles had no answer. He did try not to stare.

"I make them confront the evil within so that they may be free. But the demons...I think they are beginning to suspect me. They follow me. At night. Mr. Giles, I don't like doing what I must do. I'm searching for an end to this curse. That's why I buy so many books here. I'm searching for an answer. So I can be free," said Mr. O'Flynn, suddenly grabbing Giles' forearm.

"Mr. O'Flynn..."

"Please, you have to help me. They know. They know it's me. I can feel it," said Mr. O'Flynn, lowering his voice. He noticed that Giles was staring at his hand and he released his grip. "I'm sorry. It's just...I'm sorry," repeated Mr. O'Flynn, tears welling up in his eyes.

"I tell you what. I'll do a little research on my own. Give me a day or two before you come back. But before you leave give Anya over there the name of the book you want along with your name and telephone number. If I can find a copy I'll have them expedite it."

"Thank you. Thank you so much," grinned Mr. O'Flynn. "I am deeply in your debt."

Mr. O'Flynn quickly stood and walked over to Anya.

"Honestly," sighed Giles to himself, shaking his head. He saw Willow over by the bookshelves and decided now was the best time to talk to her.

Mr. O'Flynn handed Anya an index card and put the pen back on the counter.

"I'm sure we can find this for you," smiled Anya.

"Thank you. And I'm so happy for you," replied Mr. O'Flynn.

Anya gave him a confused look.

"You once had a demon within but now you're free. I can sense these things," smiled Mr. O'Flynn. "Have a nice day."

Mr. O'Flynn turned and left before Anya could react. She stared at his back, mouth wide open, as the front door closed behind him.

"Willow. Could I have a word with you?," asked Giles, keeping his voice low.

"Sure. What's up?," said Willow, putting the book she was glancing through back on the shelf. "And where's Buffy?"

"She's tied up for the moment."

Willow's eyes narrowed and she tilted her head slightly.

"Willow! I only meant that I sent her to run a couple of errands for me so that I could talk with you. Alone," said Giles.

"Oh, right!. So, again, what's up she asked, ignoring the awkward visual which should bother me more than it...shutting up now," frowned Willow.

"Have you noticed any odd behavior from Buffy lately?," asked Giles.

"You mean, besides...," began Willow, wondering how put into words what she was thinking.

"Yes, besides her and I, um, well, you know..."

"Oh. I was going to mention her kamikaze style of patrolling, but, well...there's that, too," shrugged Willow.

"Yes...there's that," agreed Giles.

"Well, she's been under a lot of stress lately. Hasn't been getting enough sleep. Not that the whole lack of sleep thing is any of my business," said Willow, not looking at Giles. "Uh...have you noticed something?"

"Yes. Last night she...," sighed Giles, wondering how to continue. "Willow, last night she hurt me."

"Hurt you? You mean in training? That's happened before, Giles. Probably just an accident. No?," asked Willow hopefully.

"It wasn't during training."

Giles extended his arms out towards Willow, palms up. His shirt sleeve slid up, exposing his badly bruised wrists. Willow winced.

"Okay, getting that naughty rope visual again," grimaced Willow. "When did...wait, forget I said that. Keeping this to a big picture gloss over the details need to know conversation...what happened?"

"Well, she grabbed my wrists. And held on, squeezing harder and harder. I said her name, called out twice, but she didn't seem to hear me. Her eyes...they were unfocused, as if she were somewhere else. Suddenly she let go and she hadn't any idea of what of had happened. But she knew what she had done. I'll borrow your expression 'wigged big time' to describe her state of mind."

"Poor Buffy. Oh, and poor Giles, too," added Willow quickly.

"Willow, her behavior of late is erratic at best. I thought it was just a reaction to Riley leaving, or her mother's illness, or protecting Dawn, or...well, perhaps just stress and exhaustion. But there might be another explanation. It's possible Buffy could be under some spell."

"I guess," shrugged Willow.

"We could ask Buffy to try another trance, to see if a spell has left some trace signature upon her, but I doubt if she's ready for that. Both mentally and physically," said Giles.

"No, I doubt if she could. The last time she tried it was a bust anyway, right?," asked Willow.

"Um, right," lied Giles.

"Well, Tara and I could try a revealing spell...might get us the same results. You should have all the ingredients we would need right here. But it's not an easy incantation, you know."

"Yes, but I have complete faith in both of your abilities," said Giles.

"I'll go talk to Tara and get started," smiled Willow, touched by his compliment.

"Willow, if it helps, I think her...symptoms, if you will, get worse at night."

"What problem doesn't seem bigger at night?," asked Willow.

*****

"Hi mom, I'm home," called out Buffy, kicking the door shut behind her. She walked into the kitchen and put the bag she was carrying down on the counter.

"Hi, honey. Hey, you seem to be in a good mood today," commented Joyce.

"You know what? I am," smiled Buffy. "Oh, and I got you a present," added Buffy, reaching into the bag. She handed her mother a dark green scarf.

"Why, thank you Buffy. You shouldn't have," grinned Joyce.

"Just thought you might want to have another color to chose from," shrugged Buffy. "Still think you should try the wig."

"Nah, just call me bandana girl," smiled Joyce. "What else are you hiding in there?," she asked, peeking into the bag.

"Nothing exciting. Light bulbs, thumb tacks...Giles sent me to the store to pick up a few things. Said he didn't have the time and was always forgetting to get this stuff. I got the impression he was trying to get rid of me."

"Why would he do that?," asked Joyce.

"Got me. I'm going to change and then head over to the shop. And what exciting plans do you have for today?," asked Buffy.

"Oh, the usual. Stop by the gallery, see if anything new came in. We get a good crowd on Saturday."

"Just don't overdo it," warned Buffy.

"Yes mom," replied Joyce, rolling her eyes. "Um, Buffy? Will you be home for dinner tonight?"

"Yes. Definitely."

"You said that yesterday, too, you know," sighed Joyce.

"I know. And I'm sorry. I...stuff came up, you know?," frowned Buffy.

"You don't have to explain. Stuff means Slayer stuff which means you'd rather not talk about it. I'd just like to spend a little more time with you," said Joyce.

"Me too," said Buffy. And then she broke into a big grin.

"What?," asked Joyce.

"You know what, mom? You need a man in your life," teased Buffy.

"A man!," laughed Joyce.

"Yes, a man. Come on now, there must be a looker or two that comes into the gallery every now and then."

"Maybe," replied Joyce, pretending not to care.

"Maybe?," repeated Buffy. "So, you've noticed, say, one or two?," asked Buffy, opening her eyes just a little wider.

"Of course I noticed, Buffy. Last time I checked I was still breathing. It's just..."

"Just what?," asked Buffy seriously.

"It's very hard to break the ice, to make that connection. And in the sea of life the male fish usually chase after the female fish with the younger, firmer fins. When you get to be the age of Mr. Giles and I, you start to accept the fact it's very possible you will be alone for the rest of your life. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, you know."

Buffy looked away but her mother saw the pained expression on her face.

"Hey, it's a beautiful day. Let's get out there and enjoy it," said Joyce with more enthusiasm than she actually felt.

Buffy nodded, forced a smile, kissed her mother on the cheek and left the kitchen, taking the stairs two at a time to get to her room. She looked up in surprise, seeing Dawn in her room. And with a guilty expression on her face.

"Okay, Dawn, what are you borrowing without asking me this time?," demanded Buffy, crossing her arms.

"Nothing!," responded Dawn indignantly. "In fact, I was giving you a present."

Dawn turned and picked up a framed photo from the nightstand behind her. She handed it to Buffy.

"Just got the film back. I had them make a couple of eight by tens for you and Giles. Found the frames down in the basement," said Dawn.

Buffy couldn't help but smile. Her arm was around his waist, his arm held her close to him and they were both smiling. No, more than smiling. They both looked happy. She ran her hand across the photo, touching the arm that rested on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Dawn. That...that was very nice of you."

"I'm glad you like it. I was just heading over to the Magic Shop to give Giles his copy. Want to come with?," asked Dawn.

"Sounds good," agreed Buffy, not looking up from the photo.

"Does this mean you'll let me borrow your blue blouse?," asked Dawn.

"Alright," sighed Buffy. "I'll get it for you."

"Oh, no need. It's...in my room," said Dawn, quickly leaving.

Buffy was going to say something but just shook her head and laughed. She looked at the photo of her Giles and her together. Without realizing it she reached up and placed her hand on her shoulder where Giles had his arm in the photo. Buffy closed her eyes and smiled.

*****

"Who wants donuts?," called out Xander as he entered the shop, holding up a box. "And yes, I got extra jelly," he added, glancing at Giles. He placed the box on the counter and leaned over to get a kiss from Anya. She returned it with a smile, giggling like a schoolgirl.

"Hi, honey," said Anya.

Giles came over to get a jelly donut. Xander didn't make eye contact with him. Willow walked over and peered into the box.

"Anyone seen Tara?," asked Willow.

"Oh, she went to the store. Muttered something about needing a bottle of rum and an eye patch. Don't really know what she meant by that," shrugged Anya, selecting a donut.

"Hmm, that's odd. I don't recall the spell needing those items," said Giles, looking at Willow.

"Spell?," questioned Xander.

"Uh, yeah...the spell. Come over here and I'll tell ya all about it," said a wide-eyed Willow, grabbing Xander by the shirtsleeve and pulling him along. Anya hid her grin behind the donut she was holding.

"So, no sign of Jezebel the vampire Slayer yet?," asked Xander.

"Xander!," hissed Willow, hoping Giles hadn't heard him. "You don't know the whole story. I'm sure there's a very logical for her kissing Spike."

"Oh yeah. I'm sure she was just teasing old Spike," smiled Xander.

"See. There's one possibility," nodded Willow.

"And how do you explain Giles?," asked Xander.

"Xander..."

"No, let me finish. Buffy and Giles are an item. Wonderful. The birds are chirping merrily, the sun is shining, blah blah blah blah blah. And what if, for whatever reason, it doesn't work out? What would Buffy do then? She'd be without her Watcher. How long would a Slayer last without her Watcher? And if it did work? That could be even worse."

"Worse?"

"Sure. You think Giles would risk Buffy's life if he loved her? Send her to fight a big bad something, knowing she could die? What then? The bad guys win, innocent people die. And if Giles goes with her on patrol to protect her? He becomes a distraction, a moment's hesitation...and Buffy dies. It doesn't make sense," said Xander sadly.

"Xander, since when does love make sense? What do we know about Slayers? I mean really know. All we know is that they die. Buffy could die tonight, tomorrow, next week...but sooner than later, she will die. So who are we to judge her? She'll never have a normal life anyway so why deny her a little happiness? Isn't she entitled? What else is there for her?," frowned Willow.

Xander hung his head, unable to look at Willow.

"There's that," he agreed, his voice small.

"Hey."

Xander looked up.

"You're a good friend. That's why you're concerned," said Willow, resting a hand on his shoulder. Xander smiled.

"But since when did you start using the word merrily?," grinned Willow.

Xander ignored her remark and pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket, handing it to Willow.

"Buffy was doodling yesterday. This design remind you of anything?," asked Xander. Willow looked at the paper and frowned.

"No, not really. Does seem a little...strange."

"Yeah. Just like her behavior lately. Anya doesn't even want to be in the same room as her anymore," said Xander.

"Why?"

"Buffy keeps bringing up the fact that Anya was once a demon, like she's still a threat to us. She even told Anya that she was keeping an eye on her," explained Xander.

"Oh."

"So what's this about a spell?," asked Xander.

"Giles thinks Buffy might be under the influence of a spell or something. Tara and I are going to try a revealing spell, see if there's any trace evidence of magicks."

"Would explain a lot," sighed Xander.

"Maybe."

"Maybe? How else can you explain her behavior?," asked Xander. Just then Buffy entered the shop, closely followed by Dawn. She waved hello and Willow smiled. Xander looked away and Willow stopped smiling.

"Xander!," whispered Willow.

Dawn ran over to Giles and excitedly handed him a wrapped package.

"Here. This is for you," smiled Dawn.

"Oh. Why, thank you Dawn."

"Open it," said Dawn. Buffy walked up to her and smiled at Giles, putting her shopping bag on the counter. He tore the wrapping free and flipped the frame over, immediately smiling.

"Dawn...thank you. That came out rather well, don't you think, Buffy?"

Buffy didn't take her eyes off of Giles, simply beaming at him.

"Oh yeah," agreed Buffy.

Willow came over and joined the group.

"So Buffy, ready to be a guinea pig?," asked Willow.

"Huh?"

"Oh, well, you see, we just wanted to explore all the possibilities. Um, rule out the remote chance that magic is being used," said Giles. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about. You've just been pushing too hard of late."

"Giles, what are you talking about?," asked Buffy, furrowing her forehead.

"About last night. Giles, he uh, told me about it. I offered to do a spell. With Tara, of course. You know, see if there's some bad mojo at work here," stumbled Willow.

"Oh. Um, well...what do I have to do?," asked Buffy.

"Nothing. Just sit there, really. And don't worry about it. The spell's a piece of cake. In fact, it's so simple it's below me. Easy even for beginners. Nothing to worry about," smiled Willow.

"So why am I not reassured by this display of enthusiasm?," asked Buffy.

"Well...okay, it's a little more complicated than I led you to believe. But it's not like I'm going to turn you into a newt or anything! And the chance for more body hair is so low I wasn't even going to...really, it's not worth the fretting. See, a fretless, harmless spell."

"Willow, I don't know about this. I'm not doubting your abilities, I'm just...doubting your abilities," pouted Buffy, worried that she might hurt Willow's feelings.

"Tell you what, this afternoon we'll set up in the back room and I'll walk you through the spell. If you don't want to go through with it, we won't do it," offered Willow.

Buffy nodded as Xander walked up behind Willow.

"But there's chocolate after if you do," grinned Willow.

"And none if I don't? Oh, there's always a catch, isn't there!," pouted Buffy.

"Apparently not on your bra," whispered Xander so that only Willow could hear him. Her eyes opened wide and she responded by stomping down on his foot.

"Buffy, what happened last night?," asked Dawn.

"Um, well...I, uh..."

"Buffy's been having trouble remembering...things," interjected Giles.

"Right. And it's bugging me. That's all," said Buffy.

"Sure don't have any problem remembering when I don't return your earrings and stuff," sighed Dawn.

"That's different. And you still have my silver hoops?," asked Buffy.

Dawn rolled her eyes and looked away. Buffy noticed that Xander first looked at her, then at Giles, then back to her.

"Hey, know what? I gotta stop down by the site for...well, a while," announced Xander.

"Xander, it's Saturday!," complained Anya.

"Uh, yeah, but you know, if I want to get past that glass ceiling I gotta put in some overtime every now and then," smiled Xander.

"Xander, a glass ceiling is what women face when they try to move up the corporate ladder," explained Tara.

"I knew that. I was referring, of course, to the glass ceiling we're installing on our latest job. Modern architecture, don't care for it much myself" laughed Xander with a shrug. "Uh...bye."

Xander turned and headed for the door. Buffy looked at Willow but she wouldn't look back at Buffy. Buffy caught up to Xander before his hand touched the doorknob.

"Xander. What's wrong?"

"Wrong? What could be wrong?," asked Xander, his eyes involuntarily glancing back at Giles. Suddenly Buffy understood.

"You know," accused Buffy. Xander took a deep breath but looked directly at her.

"Yeah, I know."

"Damn that Willow! I knew I couldn't trust her," snapped Buffy, gritting her teeth.

"No, it wasn't like that. I found out by accident."

"So, you obviously have a problem with it," said Buffy.

"Buffy...it's Giles! He's...old."

"Anya is old," replied Buffy.

"Oh, great! Here we go again," sighed Xander. "Buffy, he's your Watcher. It's, it's...like incest!"

Buffy narrowed her eyes and glared at him. Then she tilted her head and smiled.

"Wait. I know what this is. Jealous much?," said Buffy, shaking her head.

"I'm...what!? Oh, this is so not about me."

"Oh no? You didn't chase after me for what, two whole years in high school? You couldn't deal with me rejecting you for Angel and now you can't deal with me choosing Giles over you. Wow, will the male ego ever get over itself?," asked Buffy, hands on her hips.

"Sure, that thought crossed my mind and...no, that's not it!"

"Xander, you're pathetic!"

Xander just stared at her.

"The bed Riley was sleeping in with you isn't even cold yet and you're already moving on? Going to try to make this one last, Buff, or is it use 'em and lose 'em again?"

"Who the hell do..."

Some part of Xander's brain knew that Buffy's right hand was now curled into a fist, but he pressed on. He took a step forward so that their faces almost touched.

"You care for him, do you? Think the old guy's heart isn't going to break when Spike comes a braggin' about he was kissing the Slayer last night?," threatened Xander.

Buffy's mouth dropped open.

"You followed me!?," yelled Buffy, louder than she meant to. The others were now looking in their direction. Xander glanced at them but kept talking.

"I did," whispered Xander. "I was afraid for my friend, worried that she might get hurt."

Xander turned to go but Buffy grabbed his arm.

"Xander, I...I only wanted to piss him off," whispered Buffy, her eyes pleading with him to understand.

"Yeah. Good luck with that," answered Xander. He pulled his arm free and left.

Buffy closed her eyes, bit her lower lip and counted to ten before she turned around. Everyone but Dawn pretended to have something to do. Her sister stared at her for a moment and then walked behind the counter to talk to Anya. Giles had his back to her but he wasn't ignoring her. Buffy realized that he was admiring the photo which he had placed on a shelf behind the counter.

Suddenly glad that everyone had dispersed, Buffy sneaked up behind Giles and slipped her arm around his waist, pressing her cheek against his back. She let go of him as he turned around, knowing she couldn't risk being seen in that embrace by anyone. Not yet. Giles glanced around the room before making eye contact with her and gave Buffy an understanding smile.

"I like the photo. It's your smile," said Giles, giving her hand a little squeeze before quickly letting go of it. Buffy smiled.

"What's not to like?," asked Buffy as she gazed at photo. "Giles, let's go out for lunch. It'll take Willow and Tara a little while to set the spell up. It's...it's something we haven't done before."

"A lunch date? Sounds like fun," agreed Giles.

Buffy smiled to the point of blushing.

"What?," asked Giles.

"You said date. I like the sound of that."

Giles smiled back at her.

END OF PART FIVE

PART SIX

Giles found himself drifting back, thinking about Buffy, remembering what they had been through, what they had done together. And seeing things in a new light.

"Why did you come here? This wasn't your fight!"

And she had struck him, hard, across the jaw.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

But she had held him tightly, more afraid than angry.

"You can't leave me. I can't do this alone."

Her voice so small and pleading...

He had been ready to leave her, no longer feeling needed.

"I'm scared. I know it's going to be hard. And I can't do it...without you. I need your help. I need you to be my Watcher again."

She had been afraid of what Dracula had told her, that the source of their power had darkness in it. And then Quentin had come back, once again threatening her. No, threatening them.

"They picked the perfect thing. I can't lose you."

And all he had said to her was a simple thank you. Bloody fool!

"Giles? What's going on in there?," asked Buffy.

"Oh. I'm sorry. Just...thinking."

Giles reached over and held her hand, getting Buffy to immediately smile.

"There are advantages to not having a clutch in this new car," admitted Giles.

"Oh, I almost forgot!"

Buffy reached into her pocketbook with her other hand and fished out a small wrapped package, handing it to Giles.

"What's this?"

"Just a little something I thought you'd might like. Put it in your pocket and open it later," smiled Buffy, looking embarrassed.

"You're going to make me wait?," asked Giles.

"Sometimes waiting is the best part. Well, at least the next best," grinned Buffy.

Giles smiled and put the package into his jacket pocket.

"Thank you," said Giles, taking her hand once again.

"So, where we going?," asked Buffy.

"Does it matter?"

"No. Not at all. Hey, how about the Espresso Pump? It's not far," suggested Buffy.

"Um...you know, they really don't have a great lunch menu. Perhaps somewhere else?"

Buffy looked at him and slipped her hand free of his. Giles glanced at her.

"What?," he inquired.

"Is it...is it because you don't want to be seen there with me? I mean, you sing there. People know you there," said Buffy sadly.

"What? No...Buffy, of course not! They honestly don't have a good lunch menu," said Giles. Buffy seemed to believe him. She hesitated, then turned the radio on. She had turned it off when they first got into the car. Classical music filled the car.

"You can change the station," offered Giles. "Wagner is a little heavy, especially on an empty stomach."

"No. This is fine. Giles, I want to learn from you. And maybe I can teach you as well."

"I don't follow..."

"There's a generation gap, or two, here between us. But are we that much different, you and I? Music and clothes change style, but, when you get right down to it, aren't people the same? Let's learn from one another. It could be fun," said Buffy enthusiastically.

"A fair point. But I suppose that would mean I'd have to listen to your music?"

"Giles!"

"I'm only kidding. It's a wonderful idea, Buffy. I'm sure our relationship is going to face many obstacles, but culture shouldn't be one of them," said Giles approvingly. The light ahead turned red and he slowed the car to a stop.

"Obstacles? Hey, as long as you don't yell out 'Joyce' in the middle of..."

Giles stared at her, his face ashen.

"Oh my God! Giles, I...oh my God! Why the hell did I say that!?," yelled Buffy, one hand covering her mouth and unable to look at him. The light turned green but the car didn't move. The driver behind them hit his horn, snapping Giles back to where he was. He drove, not looking at Buffy.

"I'm sorry. What the hell is wrong with me?," sighed Buffy, shaking her head.

"It's okay, Buffy. Let's face it, sooner or later we have to tell your mother about us. One word that encounter brings to mind is awkward."

"Oh yeah. But let's not even think about that now. If we worry about every uncomfortable situation that might arise, we'll go crazy. I mean, Riley could come back, or hell, what would I even begin to say to Angel?," said Buffy. Again Giles gave her a look that spoke of betrayal.

"What? You think you're the only one fighting ghosts here? I know that Jenny is still with you. Why else haven't you started seeing someone? And one night stands with Olivia don't count, either!"

"Buffy!"

"Giles, I saw it, okay? In your top drawer...the rose quartz on that leather thong that once belonged to Jenny. So don't deny it," snapped Buffy.

"You...you went looking through my things?," asked Giles, shocked.

"No! I was cold the other morning and went to get a sweatshirt...or something. I wasn't spying on you!," protested Buffy.

"But, it doesn't mean what you think it does," said Giles. The light up ahead turned red and he slowed down.

"Pfft!"

"Oh, and are you going to deny that you still have the claddagh ring Angel gave to you?," replied Giles.

"It's not the same!"

"Why are we even talking about this?," shouted Giles. "Buffy, this is ridiculous," he added, lowering his voice.

As the car stopped Buffy opened the door and stepped out, slamming the door shut behind her.

"Let's face it, Giles, I'm not her and you're not him. Am I supposed to be punished for the way I feel?," asked Buffy, tears suddenly rolling down her cheeks.

Giles stared at her, speechless.

"Damn it, show some emotion! Look at me like I mean something to you!," cried Buffy. "Giles, I need to feel something other than pain. I, I want something to believe in. I thought you understood...I thought we were alike!"

Buffy ran to the sidewalk.

"Buffy!"

Buffy ran, never once looking back at him.

"Buffy!!"

*****

Giles entered his shop and walked over to the counter without looking up. Anya closed the book she was reading and put it under the counter.

"Giles, I thought you were going out to lunch," said Anya.

He looked at her but didn't seem to focus on her. Willow came over with Tara right behind her.

"Okay, we're all set to go. Uh, Giles? Where's Buffy?," asked Willow.

"She didn't come back here?," asked Giles absently.

"No. We thought she was with you," said Tara.

"Willow, is it possible to do the spell without her?," asked Giles.

"Um, sort of, but not really," replied Willow.

Giles gave her a blank look.

"See, I'd need something that belonged to her. And then we'd only be testing whatever that was, not her. If she was wearing this item when a spell was cast upon her, then sure, it would work. But it's much more effective to test on her, if you're following me here," said Willow.

"That's what I thought," sighed Giles.

"Giles, what's wrong?," asked Willow.

"Buffy, she...she's acting very strangely. We got into an argument in the car and I'm not even sure why. I stopped at a light and she got out...began to cry and, and she ran away," said Giles, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

"Oh," said Willow, looking at Tara.

Giles put his glasses back on, suddenly remembering something. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the small wrapped package Buffy had given him. Hesitating, he looked up at the girls but then tore open the paper. His mouth dropped open as he pulled out a single teabag.

"What's that?," asked Anya.

"Buffy gave it to me...as a gift."

"One teabag?," asked Anya.

It's...," began Tara.

"It's what?," asked Willow.

"Nothing," said Tara.

"Honey, come on...what's on your mind?," said Willow, touching Tara's hand.

"Well...it's like what a little girl would give to her daddy," said Tara, wrinkling her nose. "Sorry. It's the first thing I thought of."

"Is someone going to say it or should I go first?," asked Anya.

Willow looked at her, bewildered.

"Ew!"

"Giles?," said Willow hopefully.

"There's something terribly wrong here. We have to find her," said Giles.

"Okay, we can look. And we should get Xander, too," said Willow.

"I'll call him," said Anya, reaching for the phone. "Uh, Giles?"

He looked up at her and Anya saw the concern and fear in his eyes.

"Never mind. Now's not a good time," she said, dialing the phone.

*****

The detective dumped the contents of the large brown envelope onto the counter that separated them; a key, two quarters, a dime, two nickels, a tube of dark red lipstick, two pennies and seventy six dollars in paper money. The soon to be freed prisoner didn't look up but kept her eyes focused on the key.

"I think you left out the pocket lint. Yeah, I'm pretty sure I had some when I got here."

The detective ignored her and slid a paper across the counter, tossing a pen after it.

"Sign on the dotted line. Press down hard, you're making two copies," she instructed.

The prisoner did as she was told.

"You are to report to me by phone every two days and in person every Friday. You are not to leave LA. Any questions?," asked the detective.

"Only one. Well, two actually. First, are we still on a first name basis here, Kate?"

"Look, I don't know why you're getting out early. Sure the hell wasn't for good behavior. You got a sugar daddy somewhere. But a word of advice; you so much as return a library card late and I'll have your sorry ass back in here quicker than you can blink. You understand me?," snapped the detective.

"Sure. That won't be a problem."

"Good."

"See, I don't have a library card."

Detective Lockley glared at her.

"You had another question?," demanded Kate.

"Yeah. Since when did you become a parole officer...Kate?"

"I have my connections here. And a special interest in your case," replied Kate.

"And do you know if this special interest is picking me up?"

"Sun sets in ten minutes. Wouldn't expect him any earlier than that, now would we, Faith?"

Faith slid her belongings into one hand, shoving all but one quarter into her pants pocket.

"He hasn't...I haven't heard from Angel in almost a month. Does he even know..."

"Sorry. We don't socialize much these days. Not that we ever did," interrupted Kate, ripping a copy of the release form out and handing it to Faith. She ignored it and walked over to the pay phone.

The sound of the quarter dropping into the phone seemed loud in the empty room. Faith dialed Angel's number and listened to a recording.

"I'm sorry, but the number you have dialed is no longer in service at this time. Please check to see if you have dialed the number correctly or ask an operator for assistance. Thank you."

The phone disconnected and Faith heard the quarter drop into the coin return. She glanced back at Detective Lockley. She was staring at Faith with a big grin on her face. Faith fished out her quarter and sat down on a chair to wait. She had underestimated the contempt that Kate had for her. Faith knew that Kate had known about Angel's phone being disconnected but wouldn't give the detective the satisfaction of asking about it.

Forty five minutes later Faith stood up and pushed open the door, never once looking back at Kate.

"Well, girl, seems like old times. Once again you're on your own," said Faith out loud.

Faith went out into the night and just started walking, not knowing where she was going and trying not show that she cared.

*****

"Willow, maybe this isn't such a good idea after all," whispered Tara as she glanced once again over her shoulder. The cemetery seemed empty but there was no moon and Tara didn't want to be in this dark, lonely place. Willow stopped walking but Tara didn't notice and bumped into her.

"Ah!," yelled both girls at once, each holding up a cross out at arms length towards one another. Willow rolled her eyes and Tara exhaled with a sigh.

"Sorry," shrugged Tara.

"No big," replied Willow. "But why are you so nervous? It's not like you haven't been out here at night before."

"Well, it's a lot more fun when Buffy's with us, ya know? And might I add safer, too?"

"There's that," agreed Willow. "But we have to find her. She's not herself and I'm..."

Willow stopped in mid sentence. The branches of several bushes to their right had moved, sounding very loud in the still night. They both looked in that direction and Willow felt Tara slip her hand into hers.

"You hear that?," whispered Willow.

Tara nodded.

"But...there's no breeze tonight. Don't suppose it was a squirrel," sighed Tara. "I mean, if he's looking for nuts there's two of 'em right here."

"You go around to the right, I'll go around to the left. Keep your cross up and we'll meet in the middle. Okay?," asked Willow softly.

Tara nodded. She let go of Willow's hand and they moved to opposite ends of a large bush. Willow nodded and they charged in. Three seconds later they both screamed.

"Willow!"

"Dawn!"

"Dawn?"

Willow and Tara slowly lowered their crosses. Dawn, red-faced, didn't move. She was still holding up the small silver cross that hung from a necklace around her neck.

"Dawn! What are you doing out here?," demanded Willow. "If Buffy knew you were out here..."

"See, that's just it! She's acting all weird lately, saying stuff that makes no sense, getting beat up every night. I...I thought if she saw me out here she'd realize just how worried I am about her. Maybe scare some sense into her. And I knew you guys wouldn't take me along," pouted Dawn.

Willow was going to say something but simply nodded in agreement and sighed.

"You're right, we wouldn't have let you come along. But since you're here, take this," said Willow, handing her cross to Dawn. Dawn tucked her cross back down into her sweatshirt.

"Thanks. Guess I didn't really think about what I was doing," said Dawn.

"Hey, remember this; size matters. The bigger the better," said Willow, nodding at the cross in Dawn's hand. Tara turned and gave Willow an odd look.

"Uh, in crosses. When it comes to vampires, I mean," added Willow.

Tara smiled at Dawn and nodded.

"Come on, let's go find your sister," announced Willow, walking off. Tara and Dawn followed.

"You know, I don't get to go out at night very often. It's...kinda nice. See how bright the stars seem without a moon?," asked Dawn, looking up.

"Yeah, stop and smell the roses. Just sniff quickly, okay?," answered Willow. "If Buffy knew you were out here..."

"Uh, Willow? Look," pointed Tara. Willow saw the mausoleum Tara had indicated.

"Right. That door wasn't open before," said Willow, now looking with concern at Dawn. "Stay real close to Tara and don't talk, okay? Promise?"

Dawn nodded nervously, suddenly thinking that being on patrol wasn't all fun and games. Willow withdrew a flashlight and a stake from her backpack, then nodded in the direction of the crypt.

Willow stood by the entrance and listened but there was no sound within. She clicked on the flashlight, careful to wait until her arm was inside the doorway so that if any vampires were in the graveyard the light wouldn't be seen. Squeezing past the door without opening it further, she stepped onto something sticky. Looking down, Willow realized it was a puddle of blood. Behind her she heard Dawn gasp. Too late to worry about her now, Willow entered the crypt, closely followed by Tara and Dawn.

The dank odor of the room made it seem even smaller than it actually was. Willow moved the beam of light ahead of them in an arc, pausing on the far wall. She knew what she saw but her mind refused to acknowledge the fact. The walls, the floor, the whole room, was covered in blood. Puddles of dark on the floor, lines smeared across the wall, dots of red splattered like an artist had flicked a brush to create the effect...there were places on the wall where the plaster had been shaken loose. Willow tried not to think about how much force was needed for a body to crumble stone when it impacted against a wall.

"Willow...is, is that blood? Buffy's blood?," asked Dawn, her voice revealing just how scared she was. Willow lowered the light to the floor.

"Uh, no. No, it can't be," whispered Willow, trying to sound more confident than she was. "She doesn't get hurt like that. She's the Slayer."

Tara put her arm around Dawn and pulled her close. Dawn didn't react but simply stared at the now dark wall. There were two cement sepulchers in the middle of the room and Willow slowly made her way between them, the light from her flashlight shaking unsteadily. To her right she saw what she first thought was a shadow. She soon realized that it was a leg.

"Buffy!"

Willow quickly knelt down next to her. Buffy was sitting with her back against the end of the tomb. One knee was drawn up to her chest. Both of her hands were clenched in front of her and she was staring at them. Buffy face and clothes were covered in a gray ash and Willow understood what must have happened. She had been covered in blood when she had dusted a vampire very close to her and the ash had stuck to the blood. But whose blood was it?

"Buffy! Buffy, are you hurt?," yelled Willow.

Tara and Dawn stood behind Willow. Dawn gasped and hid her face against Tara. Willow handed Tara the flashlight to hold.

"Buffy! Talk to me!," yelled Willow.

Buffy looked up and tried to focus on Willow.

"Willow?," she whispered softly.

"The one and only. Hey, are you hurt? Are you okay?," asked Willow nervously.

Buffy returned to staring at her hands. Her right hand especially was thick with blood and ash down to her elbow. Willow wondered if she had cut her hand.

"They wouldn't listen. I...I tried to make them understand. Only wanted a momento. You know, a souvenir to remember her by?," smiled Buffy. "But she kept smiling at me. No matter how many times I crushed her face...she wouldn't stop smiling. Why?"

"Tara, get that first aid kit out of my backpack for me," said Willow. Tara knelt behind her, all the time keeping the light on Buffy.

Willow scrunched her eyebrows together and reached for Buffy's hand. She slowly pried it open, only able to do so because Buffy didn't resist. As her palm opened up Willow recoiled, horrified at what she saw. She fought back a wave of nausea. Buffy held a bloody tooth in her hand.

"Never had one before," laughed Buffy.

Willow grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.

"Buffy! Can you walk? We need to get out of here. Buffy?," repeated Willow, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Willow?," said Buffy.

"Yep. It's me," sniffed Willow, forcing a smile. "Let me help you up."

Buffy nodded and let Willow help her stand. She was unsteady for a moment but didn't seem to be in any pain. Tara stood and Dawn took the first aid kit from her. Tara put her arm around her shoulder again.

"Buffy...Buffy, are you okay?," asked Dawn, still very much afraid.

Buffy looked at Dawn with a blank stare.

"How...how do you know my name?," asked Buffy.

Tara's eyes opened wide.

"Buffy, it's me. Dawn," said Dawn, pulling away from Tara and standing on her own.

"Do I know you?," asked Buffy.

"Buffy, it's your sister," said Willow.

"I don't have a sister. Who are you?," demanded Buffy.

Dawn bit her lower lip and started to cry. Tara once again put her arm around her.

"Buffy!," yelled Willow.

Buffy looked at Willow. And as if she had just became aware that she was holding something, she held up her hand and opened it. She looked at the fang, she lowered her eyes and took in the blood on her arm, she looked at the floor...slowly she brought her other hand to her face and wiped the grime from her cheek. Once again she looked at Willow and then she let the tooth fall from her hand.

"Willow."

Willow smiled and nodded.

Buffy looked at Dawn and took a step towards her.

"Oh my God. Dawn!," said Buffy.

But Dawn stepped away from her, only stopped by Tara holding onto her.

"Dawn, I'm sorry. I, I don't know what happened. I must've been hit on the head a little harder than I thought."

Dawn just stared back at her. Buffy opened her arms to her and after a moment's hesitation she ran to her sister, embracing her.

"I'm so sorry you had to see this," said Buffy.

"Are you hurt?," asked Dawn.

"I don't think so."

Dawn took a step back and looked down at herself.

"Ew," frowned Dawn, seeing the blood and grime now on her clothes.

"Sorry," winced Buffy. "Hey, isn't that my top?"

Dawn opened her eyes wider and once again stood next to Tara. Buffy sighed.

"And what are you doing out here anyway?," said Buffy, now glaring at Willow.

"Buffy, what happened here?," asked Willow, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Buffy leaned in and whispered to her.

"Let's get Dawn home first, okay?"

Willow nodded. Buffy held out her hand to Dawn and she took it with a smile.

"Let's go home. I think I've got some laundry to do," said Buffy, forcing a smile.

"Uh, Buffy?," asked Dawn.

"Yeah?"

"When did you get a tattoo?," asked Dawn, pointing at Buffy's left forearm.

Buffy let go of Dawn's hand and rubbed the crusty, gray filth from her arm. She gasped, staring at a green snake with a flickering tongue, coiled around a black dagger.

*****

Faith stood in front of Angel's new office. The door was locked and the lights were off. She took a deep breath, turned and walked away, idly kicking a pebble and shoving her hands into her pockets.

END OF PART SIX

PART SEVEN

Buffy sat in a white terrycloth robe, keeping her eyes focused on her hands as she absently tapped her fingers on the table. The coffee Joyce had made sat untouched in front of them. No one looked at her, all waiting for Buffy to speak first.

"Where's Xander? Isn't he coming?," asked Buffy, not looking up.

"Uh...no. No, he isn't," replied Willow.

"Because of what I said To Anya? Or to him?," asked Buffy, looking around the table for anyone to answer.

"Well, actually...I think it was a little of both," said Tara.

"That's understandable. Or would be if I could remember what I said," sighed Buffy.

"Buffy, I'm sure Xander knows..."

Joyce stopped, unable to finish because of the incredulous look that her daughter gave her.

"Rupert, what's going on?," asked Joyce.

"Um, well, Buffy seems to be under a spell of some kind. She's having episodes of not being able to remember what she did...or said, it seems," added Giles, noticing that Buffy winced at his words. "And also it appears that she is getting more violent, both with her attacks on vampires and verbally to those near and dear to her."

Joyce looked at Buffy but she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"We think we know who is behind this. We just don't know why," said Willow.

"Who?," demanded Joyce.

"There's a man, Mr. O'Flynn, who comes into my shop at least once a week. He has a tattoo on his left forearm that matches the one that is now on Buffy's arm," said Giles.

Buffy glanced at her arm and then uncomfortably put her hands under the table.

"So obviously magic is involved. The symbol is a hex of some kind, used to mark the victim," continued Giles.

"But how...," began Joyce.

"He bumped into me last week in the shop, grabbed my arm. Guess that's when...anyway, at the time it was his voice that creeped me out more than him touching me. It kinda sounds like Tom Waits with a sore throat," grimaced Buffy.

Giles and Joyce gave her a blank look.

"Think James Brown hitting a high note, but in a white, Anglo-Saxon drawl...and down an octave," explained Willow.

Giles half nodded in agreement. Joyce still didn't understand but let it go.

"Buffy, do you remember doodling this the other day?," asked Willow, handing her a piece of paper.

"No," replied Buffy with a frown.

"Oh. The symbol looks a little like that snake thingy on your arm. It's just a little more proof that magicks are involved," explained Willow.

"I had no idea that Mr. O'Flynn could be dangerous. A drunk, yes, and perhaps slightly mentally unstable, but looking at him...he must only weigh a hundred thirty pounds or so, with thinning red hair. Dangerous is not the first thing that comes to mind. Nor the second or third, I might add," said Giles.

"Buffy doesn't look dangerous and she's the Slayer," commented Dawn. Everyone became quiet but Buffy smiled at Dawn.

"Giles, I know we have research to do, but we might have another problem as well," said Willow.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. See, the other day Mr. O'Flynn bumped into me. Remember, when he dropped that book he bought? And then Tara went to help him up and she actually felt something, like a shock, when she grabbed his wrist. So it's possible...," said Willow, looking with concern at Tara.

"But I don't remember feeling a shock," said Buffy. "And he did touch me about a week ago, so if Tara is affected, at least we have some time to figure out how to help her. We just don't know how much time I have before...before what exactly? What's the purpose of this spell?," asked Buffy.

"We don't know yet. But I have Mr. O'Flynn's number. I'll call him first thing in the morning. He has some explaining to do," said Giles, an edge to his voice.

"But Buffy, if you didn't feel a shock...then maybe Willow could be in danger as well. We both touched him," said Tara, glancing at Willow.

"Maybe," agreed Buffy. She didn't want to think about that right now.

"Giles, why did you think he was mentally unstable?," asked Buffy.

"Mr. O'Flynn thinks he can see demons. Had me believing him at first, this being Sunnydale after all, but then he alluded to the fact that he saw them everywhere, even in my shop during the day. And that they were after him. Oh, and he called himself the Confessor. Says he forces people to confront the demons within themselves...that he drives the evil out...so that they can be free...," said Giles slowly, looking at Buffy.

"Hello? No bells going off here? Maybe a big red flag?," snapped Buffy.

"Buffy, what...you're not a demon. You're a Slayer!," said Joyce.

"Mom, we don't understand what the source of my power is. Dracula said that I was like him, that our strength is based in darkness. Kinda explains my eagerness to kill, doesn't it?," sighed Buffy.

"Buffy!," yelled Joyce.

"We can't jump to conclusions, but we have to consider the possibility that there is a connection between Buffy being the Slayer and this spell working on her. Mr. O'Flynn wanted me to find a book for him and I have his number back at the shop. I don't care if it is the middle of the night, I'm going back there and give him a call," said Giles.

"Guess we don't have to try that revealing spell now, right Giles? I mean, we know magic is in play here," said Tara.

"No, it won't be necessary now. And if we can't get in touch with Mr. O'Flynn I'm more inclined to try hypnosis on Buffy rather than a spell. But we're getting ahead of ourselves here."

There was a knock at the front door.

"I'll get it," announced Dawn, jumping up and running to the door before anyone could object. She opened it. Xander stood there, holding Anya's hand. Buffy made eye contact with him and smiled. Xander looked away and Buffy stopped smiling.

"Giles, Anya has something to tell you," said Xander as he entered the room. "Go ahead, honey," he encouraged.

"Well, the thing is...I know I should've spoken up sooner, but...,"

Anya was obviously uncomfortable but pressed on.

"See, I know I'm sometimes...blunt was the word Xander used. I say what's on my mind. And I'm trying to be better. Really, I am. It just seems that everyone always assumes that I'm only talking about myself. But I'm just trying to fit in, you know? Anyway, that's why I didn't speak up right away."

"Um, Anya?," said Giles.

"Yes? Oh, right! My point. Now keep in mind that I was a little mad at you, Giles. I thought you had been telling personal things about me to your customers. Uh, you weren't, were you?"

"What? No, of course not. Anya, is this story going anywhere soon?"

"Mr. O'Flynn knew I was once a demon. Said he was happy for me now that I was free of the demon. Said he could sense these things," shrugged Anya.

Everyone looked at Buffy.

"Not so crazy after all, is he?," suggested Buffy. "Well, why don't I get dressed and we can go over to the shop?," asked Buffy, standing up. Dawn stood up as well and Buffy looked at her.

"Thought I'd come up with you. Don't want to leave you alone," explained Dawn.

"Good idea," smiled Buffy.

"Honey, don't you think you should get some sleep?," asked Joyce.

"Mom, I'm not going to be able to sleep."

"And we should go," said Xander.

"You're not coming with?," asked Willow. "We could use some help with the research."

"I don't think it's a good idea," said Xander, avoiding looking in Buffy's direction.

"You're right. You should go," said Buffy firmly.

"Buffy!," snapped Willow.

"Hey, I don't understand what's going on. But something about Anya once being a demon obviously sets something off in me. And I know you don't believe me, but I don't remember what I say or why. I, I just don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, you know? Anya...and Xander...I'm sorry. Okay?," asked Buffy sadly. "You know I love you guys."

Xander nodded.

"I know, Buffy. And I believe you," said Anya.

"I'll call the shop in the morning," said Xander, nodding a goodnight.

*****

Buffy sat with Giles up front and Willow sat in back with Tara. The radio wasn't on and the ride over was uncomfortably quiet. And then Willow smiled.

"You know, this is about as awkward as a double date in high school. Uh, except for the lack of sweaty palms," added Willow.

"I wondered what your moms would've thought if this had been a date in high school, what with you bringing home a girl and Buffy..."

Tara didn't finish her thought, catching a wide eyed warning from Buffy.

"Least you guys had a date in high school," pouted Tara, embarrassed.

"Aw, Tara," frowned Willow, giving her hand a squeeze.

Giles pulled up in front of the Magic Shop.

"Giles, you left the lights on," said Buffy.

"Yes. I wasn't sure where you were. I was hoping that you would see the lights were still on and know that I was still awake. In case...in case you came back."

"Oh," nodded Buffy sadly.

"I'll just be a minute," he announced. "After I make the call I want to go to my place. I have my own copy of the book that Mr. O'Flynn was looking for. It's a long shot, but we may find something in it. Be right back."

"You know, I think I'll come with you. Uh, to call my mom, let her know what's going on," said Buffy.

"Buffy, nothing's going on yet. We just left," said Giles.

"Well then I'll let her know I'm alright. You know how she worries," said Buffy, opening her door. She stared at him for a moment and he caught on.

"Of course," smiled Giles, getting out of the car. Willow and Tara watched them go into the shop. "She just wanted to be alone with him," explained Willow.

"Well, duh! Of course she did!," smiled Tara.

Tara looked out of her window and slid her hand onto Willow's thigh.

"What are you doing?," asked Willow in a tone that made it perfectly clear she knew exactly what Tara was doing.

"Who, me?," asked Tara innocently. She tried to say it with a straight face but when she looked at Willow she broke into a smile.

"Well, I've never been alone with you in the back seat of a car before," winked Tara.

"Tara, Giles and Buffy could come back any minute!," grinned Willow, shaking her head.

"Isn't the danger of getting caught part of the fun?," asked Tara.

"And you call me a vixen!," laughed Willow.

"Hey little girl, want some candy?," teased Tara. Willow leaned closer to her and closed her eyes...

Giles was rummaging through the drawer under the cash register and quickly getting frustrated.

"Blast! Where the hell did Anya put that card?," growled Giles.

"Giles?"

Giles looked up and immediately stopped what he was doing.

"We need to talk. Or at least I do. I'm so sorry. I wish, I wish I knew what I was apologizing for...all I can remember is that we argued about something and, and I don't even know what! It's like I can see images of your face and feel the emotion of what happened, the anger, the hurt...but I don't know what was said. Giles..."

"Buffy, don't. Don't punish yourself. I'll figure this out. I'm going to take care of you. I promise," said Giles, opening his arms to her. Buffy wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek against his chest.

"You always have," said Buffy, closing her eyes.

Giles kissed the top of her head and Buffy smiled.

"Wait! I think I know where Anya may have put that card. It could be in the back supply room. It's where we check in deliveries. I'll be right back," said Giles.

But Buffy wouldn't let him leave. She stood up on her toes and kissed him briefly, breaking away with a smile. Giles smiled and raised her hand to his lips, kissing it.

"Don't go anywhere," he said, causing Buffy to roll her eyes.

When he left Buffy noticed that the light on his answering machine was on. Curious, she pushed the play button.

"Hi Rupert, this is Karen. We met the last time you were singing, remember? Well, I'm back in town. Thought I'd give you a call, see if you'd like to meet for a drink. Or something. You have my number. Give me a call. Bye."

Buffy stared at the phone, motionless. She glanced down the hall and then looked back at the phone. Biting her lower lip, she reached for the erase button, hesitated, and then pushed it. She walked out from behind the counter and began to pace around the room. Buffy covered her eyes with her hands for a moment, slowly sliding them down to cover her mouth as she looked back down the hall once again.

Running back behind the counter, Buffy knelt down and pulled open a drawer that she knew Giles kept weapons in. Fumbling through it, her fingers wrapped around a double bladed knife in a leather sheath. Recognizing it, she smiled and stood up. She glanced once more in the direction Giles had gone and backed her way to the door. Reaching behind her, she opened the door and quietly slipped out.

Only seconds later Giles came back out of the store room.

"Got it," he announced, suddenly noticing that he was alone.

"Buffy?"

Giles ran to the door and yelled into the night.

"Buffy!"

Willow and Tara came out of the car, each exiting from their own side.

"Giles, isn't she with you?," asked Willow.

"No. You didn't see her come out?," asked Giles, looking back into the shop.

"Uh, no. But we, we were talking. You know, not really paying attention? I guess if she wanted to she could've sneaked out," frowned Willow. She glanced at Tara but Tara was staring at the ground and didn't notice.

Giles slumped back against the door and looked at Willow in disbelief. He looked down at the index card in his hand and went back inside to make the phone call.

*****

Buffy traded punches with the vampire, each of them landing viscious blows to the face but neither giving ground. Suddenly she grabbed him by the throat, forcing him off his feet up against the wall behind him. A moment later she felt his larynx snap under her hand with a wet cracking sound that even made Buffy wince. The vampire growled in pain. And then his eyes opened wide as Buffy sliced open its stomach with the knife she held in her other hand.

She let go of the creature and it slid down into a sitting position, both of his hands on his stomach as it tried to keep his entrails from oozing out between his fingers. He looked up at her, eyes full of both hatred and pain. Buffy smiled.

"Hey, you weren't a writer when you were alive, were you? I mean, wow, think of the irony if you had been. After all, half of a large intestine is a semicolon, isn't it?," laughed Buffy, pointing at the bloody mess that had been his stomach.

The vampire ignored her and closed his eyes. Buffy drove her foot in a roundhouse kick into his forehead, knocking him on his side. The vampire didn't move. She deftly flipped the knife around so that the blade was now pointing down and took a step towards the creature.

Buffy froze. She stared at her arm as blood dripped down from the blade onto her wrist. The blood was cold so she understood that it wasn't her own. Ever so slowly she opened her hand and the knife fell to the floor. As Buffy stood there, staring at her open palm, a wave of panic washed over her. She broke out in a cold sweat, her body suddenly shaking with chills and she forced herself to breathe in shallow and rapid gasps.

The vampire moaned and her eyes flew to it. Buffy backed away, tripped over something and fell, scrambling away as quickly as she could move. When she hit the wall behind her Buffy got to her knees, fighting off abrupt nausea. She stood, stumbling once or twice, and ran as fast as she could.

*****

"Giles, I checked the number. It's what you thought, a cell phone. Mr. O'Flynn could be anywhere. We'll just have to wait and see if he answers your message," said Willow.

"Damn!," yelled Giles. He sighed and looked at Willow and Tara. They both seemed nervous, if not just plain scared.

"I need a drink. Care to join me?," offered Giles.

Willow nodded yes without hesitation. After a moment and with a glance at Willow, Tara agreed as well.

"What the hell," sighed Tara.

*****

Buffy let herself into the dark room, not shutting the window behind her. She took the comforter off of her bed and pushed it against the bottom of the door before turning on the light. Then she locked the door and sat on her bed. Her eyes drifted to the photo of her and Giles together and her hand trembled as she picked it up. Tears rolled down her cheeks but Buffy made no effort to wipe them away.

"You promised," whispered Buffy. "Giles, you promised...you did..."

Her hand still shook but now she was becoming angry.

"Is it always a lie? Is it?"

Buffy smashed her fist against the frame, shattering the glass. The photo landed on the floor. Buffy sat and stared at her hand, now bleeding. She stood up and opened her top drawer, pulling out a red bandana and wrapping it around her knuckles. Making a simple knot, she pulled it closed with her teeth.

Buffy stared at the bandana, running her hand slowly over it. This was familiar somehow. This should mean something to her...and it upset her that she couldn't remember why. But she hadn't worn this...why couldn't she remember? Buffy began to cry again, leaning against her dresser.

When she opened her eyes she was again looking into her top drawer. Seeing a ring she reached in and held it up to the light. It was a silver claddagh ring. This did seem familiar. For some reason this meant something to her. She slipped it onto her finger. And Buffy no longer felt like crying.

Buffy grabbed a change of clothes, some money, slipped on a heavier jacket and turned off the light. She closed the window behind her.

*****

It was getting late. The sun would be setting soon. Giles stared at the phone, knowing it was a useless waste of time. He also knew that if he didn't sit here that he might, no, he would, start drinking. And he wasn't ready to face those demons just yet. Mr. O'Flynn had not called. Neither had Buffy. Giles flipped through Drobnyk's book for the third time, wondering who was the bigger fool, the author or himself.

Giles looked up at the photo on the shelf behind him and knew the answer. Drobnyk might have been proven wrong with most of his theories but if he had ever let someone down it wasn't public knowledge. Not like he had let Buffy down. He looked up and realized that Willow had been staring at him for probably a long time. Xander walked up next to her and nodded.

"You didn't get much sleep last night, did you?," asked Willow.

"No. None," admitted Giles.

"So, you had the chili from down the street too, huh?," smiled Xander.

Giles didn't smile back.

"Giles, she'll be all right. Buffy always lands on her feet," said Xander.

"Let's hope so," sighed Giles.

"Um, Giles? Again along the lines of maybe I should have mentioned this earlier...I saw the car that Mr. O'Flynn got into the other day," said Anya anxiously, as if she expected Giles to yell at her.

Giles just stared at Anya.

"Right. Well, it was really old and beat up, with a lot of rust. And bondo. It might have been a late sixties model Volkswagen beetle, possibly orange in color at one time."

"You know stuff about cars?," asked Xander, surprised.

"Sure. Don't you?," replied Anya.

"Um...sure. Of course I do," nodded Xander unconvincingly.

"Anyway, I didn't get a good look at the license plate number, but it did have out of state plates. I think it began and ended with the letter 'O'," said Anya, thinking out loud.

"Oklahoma?," said Xander excitedly.

"Or even maybe Ohio," said Willow with a straight face.

"Ohio? Um...right," agreed Xander sheepishly.

"Willow, could you access the local motels on the net, perhaps see if Mr. O'Flynn is registered at one of them?," asked Giles, still staring at Anya.

"I'm on it," announced Willow.

"Sorry," shrugged Anya with a frown.

Giles nodded and smiled, trying not to scream.

*****

Faith sat on the curb across the street from Angel's old office. Even in the dark she could tell how badly gutted the place was. She had been bored at the club, had been unable to connect with either the music or the people and she had left. Without realizing where she had been walking to, Faith had ended up here. She reached into her pocket and took out the key without looking at it, all the time staring at Angel's burnt out office building. Faith tossed the key onto the ground. Instead of feeling angry that Angel had abandoned her, had not even tried to keep in touch, Faith began to feel sorry for herself.

There was nothing more Faith hated in the world than feeling sorry for herself. Like it or not, she would have to call Cordelia to find out what had happened.

There was a noise, maybe like breaking glass, from the street behind her. Faith stood up and headed towards it. She heard laughter and she walked a little faster. As soon as she turned the corner Faith shook her head and sighed. From where she stood it looked like two biker types were trying to rob some kid of his money. Each had on dirty black leather jackets and even dirtier pants that at one time may have been denim. The boy, maybe a teenager, had a black wool cap on and a hooded sweatshirt. He was being pushed around. Faith knew they were after more than his money.

"Hey!"

The two guys turned to see who had yelled and the boy ran and hid behind a dumpster. As Faith had expected, had known, they were vampires.

"You know, I thought I wouldn't have to do this anymore. I'm retired, you know?," complained Faith.

The two vamps smiled at her and began to walk towards her. Faith walked towards them.

"I'd say just get the hell out of here and no one has to get hurt. But I don't suppose you'd listen, would you?," glared Faith.

The two vamps stopped walking and looked at each other, wondering why this chick wasn't afraid of them. One shrugged his shoulders at the other. As they turned back to look at Faith, she kicked one hard in the crotch, bringing up her knee into his face as he doubled over. She grabbed him by the neck and drove him into the wall beside her. The other one was too surprised to move at first and Faith used his hesitation against him.

"You snooze, you lose," barked Faith, punching the other vamp three times before he swung back. She easily ducked under his punch and drove her fist into his chest. The vamp looked down in shock just before he exploded into ash.

"Knew that broken stick I found would come in handy," grinned Faith. She turned to face the other vampire but he took one look at her, turned and ran. Faith took two steps in his direction before deciding a chase just wasn't worth it. She stuck the stake into her back pocket and walked towards the dumpster.

The boy hadn't moved. He was hiding behind the dumpster, holding two broken pieces of wood from possibly a picture frame up in front of his face but not looking at Faith as she approached. Even though he was obviously terrified, Faith was impressed that he somehow had the street smarts to know how to protect himself. And then Faith realized that this wasn't a boy at all, but a girl with her hair tucked up under her cap, although a lot of it hung down at the back of her neck into her jacket. Faith knelt down beside her.

"Hey, it's okay. Those guys are gone."

The girl covered her face with her arms, still holding up the two sticks. She began to cry.

"I'm not going to hurt you. Come on, give me your hand. Let's get out of here."

Faith gently touched the girl's shoulder. The girl slowly lowered her arms. She was shaking more from sheer terror than from crying. Looking up, they made eye contact for the first time.

"It's okay. I...oh my God! Buffy!?"

END OF PART SEVEN

PART EIGHT

"What the hell are you doing here?"

The question was met first with a smile and then a laugh.

"Don't like the fact that I'm walking the streets with nothing to be afraid of? Well, get used to it!"

"A street walker. Yeah, that about sums up what I'm looking at."

"Not afraid of me? You should be, now that the Slayer isn't around to protect you!"

She took two steps towards him but Xander simply held out a cross in front of him with a bored expression on his face. Anya hid behind him, peering over his shoulder.

"Xander Harris, that's cheating!," snapped Harmony, turning away but still glaring at him.

"Cheating? Sorry Harm, but this is clearly in the rules. Now, what's this about the Slayer not being around? Buffy didn't go anywhere."

"Oh yeah? Well Spike saw her get on a bus tonight. A bus headed for LA. Let me guess, she decide to run away again or is she crawling back to Angel now that she drove away another boyfriend?," smiled Harmony.

Not only did Xander not come back with a witty retort, but he was clearly upset at hearing this news.

"Ha! I knew it. Buffy's gone and now we can take back this town. First I'll round up some minions, and then I'll celebrate down at the Bronze, and then...no, wait. Maybe I should go to the Bronze first. You know, party now, work later...but it's no fun to party alone..."

Harmony's rambling was interrupted by Anya throwing water on her face. Holy water. She screamed, hitting a note that Xander was sure would annoy every dog within a three block radius, and ran away, loudly cursing Xander's name as well as a few of his ancestors and a few of his possible ancestors added in for good measure.

"Minions? Puh-leeze!," sighed Xander. Anya smiled and took his hand. They turned and continued on to the Magic Shop.

*****

"You feel okay?," whispered Tara.

Willow nodded.

"You?"

Tara nodded. And then they both looked at Giles. He was staring out of a window, absently sipping scotch from a mostly empty glass. Willow quietly walked over and stood behind him. He was aware of her presence but didn't turn around.

"How can she stay away? Isn't she thinking of me?," asked Giles, taking another sip from the glass.

"Giles, she always thinks of you. Sometimes I think you're all she thinks about. But right now, it's like she's in a fog. She doesn't know where you are...she doesn't know where to look."

Giles turned and faced Willow.

"Thank you, Willow. I...I just want to help her. It's what I'm supposed to do. But how can I when I don't even know where she is?"

"When Xander gets here you can go home. Maybe she'll call there. Or maybe we could drive around, look for her," suggested Willow.

"We don't even know where to begin to look. I drove around all day, remember? No, I want to be near a phone...in case she calls. Willow, when Xander gets here would...would you come with me? You and Tara, I mean. I'd like the company," explained Giles.

"Sure," smiled Willow.

"Didn't find Mr. O'Flynn registered anywhere?"

"Nope. Hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfast...nothing. Although he could be signed in under an alias. And some of the inns don't use computers, you know," sighed Willow.

Giles took another gulp and saw Willow frown at him.

"Giles, that's not going to help," said Willow, nodding at his glass.

"It is...and it's none of your business," snapped Giles.

Willow pouted very sadly and walked away. Giles turned back to the window. A moment later he knew she was standing behind him again. He felt badly about what he had said and turned to apologize but was surprised to see Tara.

"You're Buffy's Watcher. I don't know if you're aware of this, but...you're Willow's and Xander's Watcher as well. Think about it. They need you too," said Tara, staring at Giles.

He looked down and took a deep breath. When he looked up again he handed Tara his glass.

"You're right, Tara. I'm behaving very selfishly. Thank you."

Tara smiled. And then the phone rang and they all jumped. Willow pounced on the phone before it rang a second time.

"Hello?"

"Hi Willow. Sorry, it's only me," said Dawn.

"Any word?," asked Willow hopefully.

"No. You?"

"No. How's your mom holding up?," asked Willow.

"Okay, but she hides it well. She's got a good poker face. Comes with a lot of practice, I guess," sighed Dawn.

"Yeah," agreed Willow.

"Willow, Buffy was here last night. I think she took some clothes, maybe some money. But what I didn't notice was missing until now was her claddagh ring. You know, the one Angel gave her? I'm not sure if it means anything, but...you don't think she'd go to him, do you?," asked Dawn.

"I don't know why she would, but your sister isn't exactly thinking straight either. Tell you what, I'll call Angel and give him a head's up, just in case," reassured Willow.

"Thanks. Call me if you hear anything."

"Will do. Bye."

"Bye."

"Call Angel?," said Giles.

"Buffy took her claddagh ring. It's probably nothing, but it won't hurt to call, either. Just in case. Hope it's not too late to call. Duh! Forget I said that," said Willow, shaking her head. "Too late to call a vampire. Good thinking there, Will."

Tara smiled as Willow dialed the number.

"I'm sorry, but the number you have dialed is no longer in service at this time. Please check to see if you have dialed the number correctly..."

Willow hung up the phone.

"That's weird. Angel's number is disconnected. Giles, when's the last time you talked to either him or Wesley?," asked Willow.

"Um...I'm not sure. It's been a while, at least a month...or two," admitted Giles.

"Okay, I know Buffy has tried to distance herself from Angel, but we need to say hello from time to time! Hell, we're in the same business and that business usually involves hell, ya know?," complained Willow.

The front door bell chimed as Xander and Anya entered the shop.

"Buffy's in Los Angeles!," shouted Xander.

"What?," said Giles and Willow at the same time. Tara just looked shocked at the news.

"I ran into Harmony. She was bragging about how the streets of Sunnydale were hers now that Buffy left. I guess Spike saw her get onto a bus headed for LA."

"And I had the satisfaction of shutting that bitch up by throwing holy water into her face," grinned Anya proudly.

"Uh, honey, while I liked it at the time, it isn't wise to piss off a vampire. You of all people should know about vengeance," said Xander.

"It was only Harmony," shrugged Anya.

"Good point," agreed Xander.

"She went to find Angel," said Willow to no one in particular.

"Angel? Why?," asked Xander.

"Oh dear," said Giles.

"It can't be good if he says that," winced Xander.

"We have to warn him," said Giles, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes.

"Warn him? What do you mean? If Buffy did go to LA, we can only hope Angel finds her," said Xander.

"In Buffy's state of mind, she may perceive him as a threat. You saw how she reacted to Anya. And Angel, after all, does have a demon in him," explained Giles.

"So...," began Xander.

"So Buffy may try to kill him," finished Willow.

"Then again, the upside of that would be..."

Xander didn't finish his thought, cut short by the nasty glare that Willow shot at him.

"I know Cordelia's number. I'll call her," said Willow, reaching for the phone.

"Cordy? Why not just call Angel?," asked Xander.

"I'll explain later," replied Willow.

*****

"What the hell are you doing here?," yelled Faith.

Buffy let the sticks fall from her hand and backpedaled away from Faith until her back hit the wall behind her. She could go no further. She drew her knees up in front of her but kept her hands on the ground at her sides. Buffy's eyes were wide open and she was trembling.

"B...what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Faith didn't see any blood. She stood up and Buffy flinched.

C'mon, B, you've faced a lot worse than those two losers before. Hey...you're not afraid of me...are you?," asked Faith sadly.

Buffy just stared at her.

"It's not like that. I wouldn't...Buffy, don't do this. I'm not...hey, can you talk?"

Buffy's eyes darted around like a trapped animal seeking escape.

"You're startin' to really freak me out here."

Buffy wrapped her hands around her knees and no longer looked at Faith. She began to rock back and forth. Tears clouded her eyes. Faith licked her lips and tried to decide what to do. Then, very slowly, she extended her hand and knelt down in front of Buffy. Buffy looked up, ignoring the hand but keeping her eyes on Faith. She began to cry harder.

"Buffy, don't you recognize me? Do you know who I am? It's me...Faith."

For the first time Buffy looked at Faith's hand. Faith gently placed her hand on Buffy's knee.

"Hey, it's okay now. I'm going to help you. I'm...I'm going to make things better. I promise," said Faith, struggling with those words.

Buffy made eye contact with Faith again and suddenly grabbed her hand, startling her. Faith opened up her arms and Buffy practically dove into her, hugging her tightly and crying even harder, her sobs causing her to convulse.

"Buffy, I don't know what's wrong, but I'm here now. Let me help. Please?"

Buffy nodded but didn't look up. Faith smiled and hugged Buffy just a little tighter. Faith closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"B, we need to get away from here. In case that vamp comes back with some friends. Let's stand up, okay?"

Buffy didn't move but allowed Faith to pull her to her feet.

"Gotta find a place to spend the night. I don't want to go to a shelter...too many questions. So we have to do things my way," said Faith, forcing a smile. Buffy looked up, no longer crying, and smiled. Faith wiped away her tears with her hands.

"That's better," smiled Faith. "Come on. Let's go."

Faith turned and Buffy grabbed her hand. Faith looked at her and then down at their hands. Buffy simply wanted to hold her hand and nodded at her. Faith nodded back. She wanted to smile to hide her own fear but she couldn't.

*****

Faith led Buffy by the hand into the center of a large empty room. It was on the third floor of an abandoned warehouse. A few broken beer bottles, many cigarette butts and small piles of trash indicated to Faith it was a hangout for teenagers or that the homeless occasionally took refuge here.

"We should be okay here. Too many windows for it to be a popular with the vamps. Plus if this was a popular hunting ground there'd be a lot less garbage. Word gets around, ya know?," said Faith, looking at Buffy. There was no mistaking that look; Buffy was scared, badly shaken.

"Hey," said Faith, taking her other hand in hers. Buffy met her eyes. Faith didn't smile but tried to look more confident than she felt.

"Nothing to worry about, B. We're in the middle of a big room. Anyone comes here and I'll hear them long before they can reach us."

Buffy nodded ever so slightly. Faith sighed.

"B, what happened? Why won't you tell me?," begged Faith.

Buffy's lower lip trembled and she hugged Faith, burying her head against her chest. Faith's eyes opened in surprise. Slowly, hesitantly, she raised her arms and embraced Buffy, pulling Buffy to her. Buffy responded by holding Faith even tighter and Faith could tell she was trying not to cry. Faith closed her eyes and tried not to cry herself. She simply wasn't prepared for the emotions that were trying to overwhelm her as she held her fellow Slayer. That Buffy would ever come to her...after all that had happened, it just never seemed even remotely possible.

"B, it's okay to cry. I'm here," said Faith softly. She felt Buffy nod. She didn't cry but her body shivered against Faith.

"Hey, you cold?"

Buffy pulled away and looked up, again nodding and wrapping her arms around her chest. Faith unzipped her jacket, slipped out of it and helped Buffy into the arms, zipping it up.

"Here, lay down with me. We'll keep each other warm," instructed Faith, pulling Buffy down to a sitting position. She lay down on her side with one arm out, inviting Buffy with a nod to join her. Buffy didn't hesitate, resting her head on Faith's arm with her back to her in a spoon position. Faith put her other hand around Buffy's waist and pressed closer against her back. She caught the faint scent of vanilla in Buffy's hair.

Faith didn't close her eyes. The sounds of the city at night came to them, distant and muffled. A police siren, a car horn...somewhere a dumpster was being emptied. These things Faith knew and was comfortable with. The lessons from living alone on the road were easily ignored but never forgotten. Her eyes grew heavy but she didn't want to fall asleep before Buffy. And she could tell by Buffy's shallow breathing that her friend was too wound up to fall asleep.

Her friend. Is that what they were? Friends? She wondered what had happened to Buffy and what the morning would bring. Faith fought back a sudden wave of panic. Buffy would remember. Everything. No, they were not friends. Not after all Faith had put Buffy through. She wouldn't blame Buffy if she gutted her with a knife while she slept. And now Faith wondered if Buffy had a knife.

From somewhere in the alley below came the sound of breaking glass. Buffy shot up into a sitting position, unable to tell where the sound had come from. Her eyes darted nervously around the room. And when Faith gently touched her shoulder she jumped. Their eyes met and Buffy immediately relaxed.

Faith took one finger and pushed the bangs out of Buffy's eyes, first to one side and then to the other, pushing her hair up under her cap. Buffy swallowed, her eyes never leaving Faith's eyes.

"Trust me," whispered Faith.

Buffy smiled. Faith rested her palm against Buffy's cheek.

"Close your eyes. Lay down with me."

Buffy nodded, this time facing Faith as they moved onto their sides on the cold, hard floor. Their faces almost touching, Faith stared at Buffy's closed eyes, felt her breath in shallow puffs against her cheek...and felt a teardrop roll down her face even before she knew she was crying. Faith closed her eyes and bit her lip but couldn't stop the sobs which began to shake her body. She felt Buffy move but couldn't look at her.

"Faith."

A single word, less than a whisper. Even so it cut into Faith like Buffy had screamed her name. She felt herself being pulled up and didn't fight it. She felt Buffy's thumbs on her cheeks, wiping away her tears. But she cried even harder.

"Faith, don't cry. Please don't cry," whispered Buffy.

Faith finally opened her eyes. Buffy didn't seem to be afraid anymore, only sad. Faith closed her eyes again and pressed her face against Buffy's shoulder.

"I'm sorry...Buffy, I'm so sorry. You have to believe me...you have to," sobbed Faith.

Buffy wrapped her arms around Faith, her eyes wide open. She didn't understand why, she only knew that Faith needed her. As much as Buffy needed Faith.

*****

"Faith?"

Faith's eyes were open instantly. She sat up and looked around the room, expecting trouble. But they were alone. It was light out, probably not much past dawn. Buffy was sitting next to her, cross-legged and fixing her hair...into pigtails.

"New look, B?," smiled Faith.

"You don't like?," pouted Buffy, no longer fussing with her hair. "And my name's Buffy. Why did you call me B?"

"Huh?"

"Do I know you? Do you know me? 'Cause I can't remember...even when I say your name out loud...Faith...and yet, I think we've met or, or something," said Buffy with a shrug.

Faith stared at Buffy for a moment.

"Okay, B, fun and games are over. Had me going there for a minute. So what are you playing at here?," smiled Faith.

Buffy didn't move but suddenly looked scared.

"Hey, you know me. How else would I know your name?," asked Faith.

Buffy shrugged her shoulders but didn't say anything.

"Maybe...maybe you have amnesia. Do you remember getting hit on the head last night?," asked Faith.

Buffy shook her head.

"Here, let me touch your head, see if there's a lump or something."

Buffy leaned forward and Faith gently ran her fingers through her hair, feeling her scalp.

"No bumps...anything sore?," asked Faith.

Buffy shook her head.

"Well, we do heal quick like," sighed Faith. "Maybe I can help you remember by asking you stuff, okay?"

Buffy smiled and nodded.

"Let's see...you're in Los Angeles. How did you get here?"

"Bus. I took a bus."

"Good. From where?," asked Faith.

"Sunnydale. That's where I live."

"Good again. Two down, eighteen to go. So, you know your name, where you are, where you're from...B, I mean Buffy, why did you come here?," asked Faith.

"I...I was looking for someone," said Buffy, looking confused for the first time.

"Do you know who you were looking for?"

Buffy frowned and shook her head.

"Was it Angel?," asked Faith.

There was a moment of recognition but then Buffy looked sad.

"I know that name. I should know that name," sighed Buffy. "How...why do I know that name?"

"He's, uh...we'll get back to him. Maybe we should call someone, let them know you're okay. Did you come here alone?," asked Faith, just thinking of that.

Buffy nodded.

"Guess we could call Red. Not that she'd be happy to hear my voice," sighed Faith.

"Red?," asked Buffy.

"You know. Willow."

Buffy started to giggle.

"What?," asked Faith, smiling.

"I saw Willow and Tara kissing. They didn't know that I saw them but I did!," giggled Buffy, covering her mouth with one hand.

Faith stared at her for a moment.

"Um, Buffy? You haven't been drinking, have you?," asked Faith.

"You mean, like booze? No, of course not! That would be wrong," said Buffy.

Faith stared at Buffy again.

"Can this get any weirder? I should just call Giles and see..."

"No!," yelled Buffy, grabbing Faith's wrist. Faith knew then that Buffy still had her Slayer strength.

"No. Faith, please don't call him, okay? Promise me you won't."

"But...why? Buffy, he's your Watcher. Or was. I think he can help us," explained Faith.

"No," repeated Buffy, shaking her head and looking away from Faith. She let go of Faith's arm, drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. Faith slid over next to her and put her arm around her.

"Hey, what's wrong? You can tell me," said Faith softly.

"I...I'm not supposed to tell," whispered Buffy, not looking up at Faith.

"Tell? I don't...Buffy, you can trust me. I want to help but I can't unless you trust me. Plus you're starting to wig me out here," frowned Faith.

"But, but I'll get in trouble," said Buffy nervously, glancing at Faith. "I know I will."

"Get in trouble?," repeated Faith, knotting her eyebrows together.

"You promise not to tell? You promise?," demanded Buffy.

"Sure. I mean, of course!," said Faith, hugging Buffy a little tighter.

Buffy bit her lower lip. She inhaled and then nodded.

"He...sometimes Mr. Giles, he...well, he touches me," said Buffy with a pout.

"Huh?"

"You don't believe me. I knew you wouldn't!," protested Buffy, looking like she might cry.

"No, no I do," said Faith quickly. "What do you mean he touches you?"

"You know!," whined Buffy. "He...he touches me where he shouldn't," whispered Buffy, her face turning red.

Faith's eyes opened wide and her face seemed to pale. She was going to say something but couldn't. She looked away for a moment and then stared back at Buffy.

"Guess a way-to-go Rupert would be inappropriate right about now. Well, I asked if it could get any weirder and...hey, wait a minute! I bet I know what this is! Witchcraft! One of Willow's spells probably got screwed up again. And they don't even know where you are! Oh my God, your mom must be so worried!," said Faith.

Buffy winced and closed her eyes.

"Hey..."

"Please don't call her," pleaded Buffy. "I can't...I can't talk to her."

Faith took a deep breath and counted to five to herself.

"Why? Buffy, your mom loves you. You know that," said Faith, bringing her face closer to Buffy's.

"But she's mad at me," cried Buffy, finally starting to cry.

"Oh, no she's not. And as soon as she hears your voice it won't matter what happened. You'll see."

Buffy tried to smile, wanting to believe what Faith had said.

"Why should she be mad at you?," asked Faith, squeezing Buffy's shoulder again.

"Because...she blames me...and so does dad. Oh, they won't admit it. Not to me. But they do."

"Blame you? I don't understand. For what?"

"For them breaking up. It was my fault," sniffed Buffy.

"Oh boy," sighed Faith. She pulled Buffy's head to her so that it rested against her chest. And because Buffy so eagerly sought comfort in her arms, Faith began to understand.

"Buffy?"

"Yeah?"

"How old are you?"

"You don't know? I thought you said you knew me. How can you not know how old I am if you know me?," asked Buffy, trying to pull away. Faith held onto her.

"I'm sorry. You're right, it was a stupid question. Buffy, I don't want you to worry about anything. I'm going to take care of you. Okay?"

Buffy nodded.

"Hey, you must be starving. Want to get some breakfast?," asked Faith.

"Yeah. I do," said Buffy, pulling back and wiping her cheeks with the palms of her hands. Faith stood up and helped Buffy to her feet.

"Faith?"

"Yeah?"

"Willow is a witch?"

"Um, yeah. But a good one. Like in the Wizard of Oz. Remember?," asked Faith.

"Yeah," smiled Buffy. They started walking towards the door. Faith put her arm over Buffy's shoulders.

"Faith?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For last night...for everything. I, uh, I didn't know where I was going to stay, you know? Guess I didn't think this through all the way."

"It happens. But hey, I said I'd take care of you. And I will. I promise."

Buffy smiled.

"You and me, B...I mean, Buffy...we have something in common. It's kinda hard to put into words, you know?," smiled Faith. "It's like..."

"I know. I feel it too," smiled Buffy. She stopped walking and looked directly at Faith.

"Thank you."

It took all of Faith's willpower not to cry.

END OF PART EIGHT

part 3