FF: Rewrite Season 6, part 10 - T/W - R

["carrkjar" <carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Rewrite Season 6, part 10
Life Serial

Author: Frau Hunter Ash 

Copyright © 2002 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.
Email: carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx Feedback welcome!!
Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/ 

Acknowledgments: Note: Plot collaborated on by Hunter Ash and Dark 
Gremlin 
Suggestions from many people and many boards. A special "thank you" 
to them.
 
Another special "Thank You" to Joan the English Chick 
(pisces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) for her transcripts.  

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, 
Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. No harm intended.  
The character of Maggie Doyle belongs to whoever created ER and I'm 
just borrowing the absent character.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual relationship 
between people of the same gender and opposite gender. If this 
offends or is illegal for you, then please leave. Come back when you 
are older, have an open mind, moved, or changed your laws. 

Spoilers: In my universe here, Season 6 is happening again! Starting 
with Bargaining and taking off from there. Things will be different 
here.  

Rating: R (US), 15 (UK) MA (Aus) ? Warning: Attempted sexual 
assault. Pairings: W/T, X/An

Summary: Life moves on for the Scooby Gang after Spike's attempted 
rape of Buffy. Things change drastically and abruptly.

* * *

Xander carried Buffy into the house, followed by everyone rushing in 
and going about various tasks of caring for their injured friend. 
Unaware they were being watched from the trees.

Willow rushed to the hall closet for the First Aid kit; Tara ran for 
a washcloth and towel; Dawn hurried upstairs to get a shirt for her 
sister; Anya got on the phone to call Giles; and Xander held Buffy 
tightly.

He saw the ripped shirt, the bite marks on Buffy's neck and breasts; 
bruises on her arms and legs and saw red. Xander knew what Spike had 
attempted and he didn't know which was worse, trying to kill Buffy or 
rape her.

Buffy stirred and moaned in his arms.

"Buffy, it's okay," he said gently. "You're safe. We got you home."

Buffy opened her eyes slowly but closed them again.

"Damn bastard whacked me!" she complained.

"Well, Dawn smashed him for you," Xander smiled gently around his 
tears.

"He tried?he tried to hurt me," Buffy whimpered.

"Dawn stopped him, Buff," Xander assured his friend. "I'm going to 
kill him this time."

"Yes," Buffy agreed, slipping back into sleep as everyone gathered 
around for their individual duties.

"Damn him!" Willow hissed, her face turning red with anger as she 
took in Buffy's condition.

"I can't believe he'd do this," Dawn frowned, still holding onto the 
baseball bat.

"Believe it," Xander growled.  

"I want him dead too, Xander," Tara said her voice low and dangerous.

"No argument there from Buffy," he nodded firmly as Dawn frowned.

Faith snuck back up the stairs and down the trellis.  

"This is getting to be a dangerous habit, B," she muttered to 
herself. She had seen Spike attack Buffy and wondered if he had 
finally over-ridden that chip in his head or not. She had been very 
surprised to see Dawn follow Spike and Buffy into the crypt and come 
out a few minutes later with the Slayer.

Faith had to admire the girl's courage and determination. The 
teenager had just taken on William the Bloody, killer of two Slayers, 
and apparently came out on top.

The dark Slayer moved towards the cemetery. Ethan might have been 
right about Spike; the vampire might be useful in getting close to 
Buffy. After the way Buffy looked, each of the Scooby gang would 
break their necks trying to get to Spike in revenge.

* * *

Buffy was awake and alert by the time Giles showed up at the house. 
She answered his questions carefully, despite her tears.

Xander stayed close, lending his strong arms as comfort as Willow and 
Tara slowly healed her vampire bite with a low level healing spell.

"Alright, we know Spike is not thinking rationally," Giles said 
slowly. "That might work for us in tracking him down. I don't think 
he'd be stupid enough to stay in the same crypt but we will hit there 
tonight just in case Dawn hit him hard enough."

Giles glanced over at the teenager. "That was very brave, Dawn. Just 
don't get caught out again without weapons, please."

Dawn was grateful that this was all the lecture she was getting. She 
knew she deserved more but the attack on Buffy had lessened the blow.

"Let's get him!" Xander said firmly. "He can't get in, so Buffy and 
Dawn will be safe."

"I agree," Giles nodded and stood up. "Buffy, are you alright with 
this?"

"Yes, we could never trust him after this," Buffy said softly, tears 
filling her eyes. "He could hurt Dawn next."

"Shall we go then?" Giles asked the others as they gathered their 
weapons.

* * *

Faith found Spike on the bed holding his head and moaning. He had 
barely gotten his trouser back over his hips but hadn't zipped them 
back up. Faith realized with a roar in her ears what he had 
attempted.

"You stupid idiot!" she shouted and Spike turned over, moaning.

With a look of revulsion, Faith reached down and to zip his trousers 
up and grabbed him by his shoulders.

"Why didn't you just kill her?" Faith demanded as she shoved him 
towards the ladder.  

Spike growled but started up the ladder as Faith gathered his clothes 
and shoved them into a pillowcase.

She found Spike reaching for a bottle of whiskey when she came up 
from the lower crypt and snarled at him. With swift steps, Faith 
crossed the space and smacked the bottle out of his hands.

"They're on their way here, you jerk!" she shouted.

"Fine, lets get it over with!" Spike snarled.

"They're armed and you can't hurt them!" Faith snarled back. "Let's 
get out of here and make them come to us when we're ready!"

Faith threw the vampire out the door and into the night, barely 
getting him into another crypt as the Scooby gang appeared from among 
the tombstones. Faith knew if Buffy was with them they wouldn't be 
able to hide from her Slayer senses but none of the others had the 
same talent.

"Bloody bastards," Spike muttered.

"Shut up! You brought this on yourself," Faith growled. "Letting her 
get to you like that!"

"Like you never did!" Spike countered. "You took a knife in the gut 
and didn't fight back because it was Buffy."

"Yeah, I've gotten smarter since then," Faith growled. "I'm gonna 
put that knife right through her spine. Are you sober enough to 
listen to a plan rather than that stupid stunt you pulled earlier?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he grumbled.

"Good, cause I know someone who wants to be there when you lure Buffy 
and Willow to their deaths," Faith nodded.

* * *

Three days and nights passed with no sign of Spike and Buffy thought 
that the vampire might actually have taken her advice and left town.

Riley and Sam stopped in every day to talk with Willow and Tara and 
the witches were beginning to relax around the two soldiers. They 
discussed the magic, Powers That Be and Joyce's spiritual return.

Willow knew that Riley didn't quite believe them about most of it but 
found Sam surprisingly receptive. The red-haired witch deliberately 
held back the details of the spell, even when Riley pushed. She told 
them that she couldn't remember it and the written copy had been 
destroyed when the demons crashed the circle.  

Tara knew Willow was lying but didn't contradict her lover, leaving 
it to Willow's judgment. She knew none of the Scooby gang totally 
trusted Riley or the Initiative. She remembered the nightmare of 
getting Oz back out of their hands and then Riley returning to them 
later.

Buffy began patrolling again with at least one Scooby member each 
night and began researching what type of job she could look for in 
the daytime.

* * *

Buffy sat huddled over the Classifieds with a frown as Willow and 
Tara came down one morning for their morning juice and bagels.

"Hi, Buff!" Willow said cheerfully.

Buffy growled.

"Uh oh, Classified blues," Willow said softly. "We nursed Xander 
through many of them."

"Well, I-I was kinda t-thinking," Tara said softly as Buffy glanced 
up with a glare at them. "Buffy knows how to-to fight, right?"

"That's a given," Buffy growled.

"W-Why not use that?" Tara asked.

"Beat people up for a living? I think that's illegal," Buffy teased.

"Not if they pay you," Tara smirked with a half smile.

"Pay me?" Buffy and Willow looked puzzled.

"People pay to be trained to fight, self defense stuff," Tara said 
shyly.

Willow grinned a wide grin as Buffy continued to look confused.

"Brilliant idea, lover!" Willow beamed and Buffy looked thoughtful 
and then began to smile as well.

"Might as well put the Slayer stuff to use, huh?" she 
smirked. "Well, let's see if any dojos are hiring! We have a plan!"

Willow grinned as Tara blushed, pleased at having helped. "Let's get 
down to the shop before Anya has a heart attack because we're late."

"G-Good luck, Buffy," Tara said softly.

Buffy grinned and reached for the phone book and her pad of paper.  

* * *

Dawn was surprised that no one was around when school let out. She 
had expected to find Buffy grumpy after a day of looking for a decent 
job but even the jobless Slayer was out.

The teenager went to her room and quickly changed into more 
comfortable clothing. With a glance around the hallway she went to 
Tara and Willow's door. Then with another guilty glance, she went 
inside and went to the bookshelves. She reached behind the books 
until she felt one of the many books hidden behind the ones in front.

Dawn knew the two witches kept the darker magic books hidden but the 
teenager had figured out the various hiding places. She pulled out 
her latest fascination and sat down to read.

* * *

Xander felt better at work. Good physical work always made him feel 
better. There was something good about putting in a hard day of 
physical labor and actually seeing what you had accomplished with 
your own two hands. He knew that Willow and Tara couldn't actually 
relate to his pleasure in being a carpenter but Anya tried and that 
was all that mattered to him.

"Hey, Alexander!"

Xander froze at the sound of the voice. He slowly turned and faced 
his father walking up to him.

"Uh, hi, Dad," he said slowly.

"Why haven't you been home?" Alexander Harris Sr. demanded.

"Dad, I left you a note," Xander said softly. "Anya and I are 
staying with Buffy for a few days."

"You ungrateful bastard," Harris Sr. growled. 

"Don't start, Dad," Xander growled back and saw the surprise in his 
father's eyes. "As soon as I've saved up a couple months rent, Anya 
and I are moving out."

"You'd choose that tramp over your family?" Harris Sr. demanded but 
actually took a step back when Xander growled and stepped towards him.

"Don't push it," Xander warned. "She's my fiancée and you won't talk 
about her like that!"

Harris Sr. looked confused and backed up another step.  

"You're right, son," he said softly. "I'm sorry."

Xander thought he was going to faint in front of his father.

"I guess I forget that you're trying to grow up," Harris Sr. admitted.

"Uh, thanks, Dad," Xander said sincerely.

"I?I got some errands," Harris Sr. said, looking uncomfortable. "Give 
your mom a call, okay?"

"Yes, sir," Xander said softly, surprised when his father held out 
his hand. Xander shook his father's hand, firmly.  

The young man watched as his father walked back towards the family 
car, still stunned by the events. Xander broke into a grin and 
dashed for his pickup. It was quitting time and he was flying about 
three feet off the ground.

* * *

Willow looked up from the top of the bookcase she was restocking and 
did a double-take. Xander was smiling and almost skipping into the 
shop.

She watched as her best male friend dashed behind the counter and 
grabbed Anya up in a passionate embrace without giving his fiancée a 
chance to speak.

Anya squeaked in surprise and smacked at Xander's arms but he refused 
to let her lips go and after a moment she surrendered to the kiss.

Tara entered from the back room with a half smile smirk.

"I thought Xander didn't like PDA's in the store?" she grinned.

"He doesn't," Willow agreed. "I have no idea what this is about."

Xander released Anya from his lips but not his arms.

"Marry me," he said loudly.

"I already said I would!" Anya protested with a laugh.

"Then set a date!" Xander grinned.  

"What? You wouldn't set a date!" Anya countered.

"Set one! Let's do it! You want to go to Reno tonight?" Xander 
babbled.

Willow glanced down at Tara and shrugged, "Is he under a spell?" she 
whispered.

"I am not under a spell!" Xander protested, looking at the witches 
with a wide grin. "I'm in love!"

"You nut case!" Anya laughed and kissed him again. "A month from 
now!" 

"Done!" Xander grinned.

* * *
  
Dawn squeaked in surprise and fear when the front door slammed shut 
downstairs.

"Dawnie?" Buffy called up the stairs.

Dawn quickly shoved the book back and dashed to the top of the 
stairs. "Up here, Buff!"

"Okay, I'm heading to the kitchen," Buffy called up to her sister and 
then turned to the kitchen. She checked the steaks she had set out 
to thaw in the refrigerator that morning and nodded with approval.  
Ever since the visit from the social worker, Buffy had been more 
aware of Dawn's teenage eating habits. She thought of how well Tara, 
Willow and Giles had taken care of her sister.

Buffy had been practicing cooking and was actually improving.  

Dawn walked into the kitchen and gasped.  

"What?" Buffy asked, her face puzzled.

"Your eye!" Dawn exclaimed. "Who hit you in the daytime?"

"Oh that," Buffy grinned. "I got a job today."

"And that meant getting hit?" Dawn demanded.

"Yeah, it did, actually," Buffy continued to grin. "I am now an full 
time instructor at the Self Defense Academy of Sunnydale."

"Self Defense?" Dawn squealed. "You get paid to get hit?"

"Well, I kinda had to fight my way in," Buffy admitted. "The owner 
wouldn't even consider me. He said I was too short, too small and a 
female."

"Uh oh," Dawn muttered.

"I pointed out that the martial arts were designed so that a smaller 
opponent could overcome a larger and stronger enemy," Buffy 
smirked. "He wasn't amused and challenged me."

"You kicked his butt," Dawn grinned.

"Well, yeah," Buffy nodded. "Then he sent five of his instructors 
onto the mat with me."

"Oh unfair!" Dawn exclaimed.

"That was a little harder," Buffy admitted with a shy smile.

"You still kicked their as?butts, right?" Dawn demanded, obviously 
proud of her big sister.

"Yeah, that's how I got the job," Buffy smiled. "I work four days a 
week at the dojo. That leaves me time to go to school and Slay at 
night."

"And you get to keep me!" Dawn said excitedly, hugging Buffy tightly.

"I hope so, Runt," Buffy laughed and grabbed Dawn in a bear hug as 
Dawn giggled.

* * *

Willow looked up from the table in the common area of the Magic Box 
with a frown as Riley and Sam entered.

"What's up, guys?" she asked as Tara fell quiet. "Any news on Faith?"

"No, that's not why we're here," Riley said, his voice curiously flat 
and without emotion, as was his eyes.

"What up, Ry?" Willow asked again, her voice soft as her muscles 
tensed.

"Do you remember a Samantha Hollings?" Riley asked and Willow looked 
puzzled and thoughtful.

"I think so, she was part of Cordelia's crowd in high school," Willow 
said slowly. "I never really knew her, I wasn't part of the crowd."

"I heard she tormented the hell out of you in high school," Riley 
said.  

"They all did back then," Willow shrugged. "Then I became friends 
with Buffy and it eased up some. Why bring that up now?"

"Because she was found burned to death in her car," Riley said slowly.

"Oh gross!" Tara exclaimed.

"And that has something to do with me?" Willow frowned. "I'm sorry 
she's dead but how do I fit into this?"

"She was burned to death but nothing else was touched," Riley 
clarified.

"Spontaneous combustion?" Tara asked softly.

"There was traces of magic and the signature energy is yours," Riley 
explained.

"That doesn't make sense," Willow protested. "I didn't even know she 
was still in Sunnydale!"

"We tracked your energy signature when you caused that massive power 
spike," Riley countered.

"Couldn't it be the sorcerer who tried to kill Willow that you're 
tracking?" Tara suggested.

Riley frowned and Sam looked puzzled.

"That's a possibility, Ry," she said softly.

"We have our orders," Riley said firmly his hand reaching for his 
back pocket.

"Willow! Go!" Tara shouted as she raised her hands and sent an energy 
blast into Riley's chest and Sam's hip.

Willow dashed through the back room as Riley yelled something behind 
her, Anya screamed and Tara shouted back at Riley.

The red-haired witch slammed the back door open and looked around the 
alley. She ran to the end and glanced around the edge of the 
building. Willow squeaked when she saw two military vehicles 
approaching from either end of the street, heading for the Magic Box. 
Willow dashed back down the alley and looked down.

"Damn you, Riley! I'm really gonna hate this!" Willow muttered and 
raised her hands.

"Open sesame!" Willow grumbled and the manhole cover rose and hovered 
above the entrance to the sewer until Willow was on the ladder 
heading down. "Not very original, but it works."

* * *

Buffy and Dawn were at the Magic Box within ten minutes after Anya 
called them, angry and hysterical. Military personnel wanted to 
arrest Tara and Anya for impeding their arrest of Willow Rosenberg.  
Tara was shouting, Anya was screaming, Xander was fuming and there 
was no sign of Willow.

"Riley, what the hell is going on?" Buffy demanded.

"We attempted to detain Willow after a magical murder was committed 
and her?her girlfriend stopped us!" he shouted.

"You know damned well that Willow is not a killer!" Buffy shouted 
back.  

Giles entered the front of the store and took in the scene of chaos.

"Riley, do you and your storm-troopers have a warrant to invade my 
store?" Giles demanded.

"We don't need one, we are acting in the interest of National 
Security," Riley growled.

"Unless they suspended the United States Constitution, I believe you 
need a warrant," Giles growled back. "You want me to ask the local 
media about your presence here?"

"You wouldn't dare!" Riley snapped.

"Watch me, soldier boy!" Ripper growled. "Get out of my shop until 
you show me a search or arrest warrant!"

"I am empowered by the Government of the United States to arrest 
anyone who is a danger to the security of the US," Riley repeated.

"I don't think Willow actually represents a threat to National 
Security, do you?" Giles smirked. "It is Willow you're after, isn't 
it? Since she's not here and you're brassed off about it."

"Giles, I'm warning you, turn Willow over to us when she comes to you 
for help," Riley snapped.

"Get out or face a media blitz that will make Watergate seem tame!" 
Giles threatened back.

Riley and his troops left the shop, muttering and grumbling.

"Someone want to explain?" Giles demanded as the last soldier left, 
closing the door.

* * *

Anya frowned at the light pounding at the back door later that 
evening. Everyone had finally left except Xander and he was out 
front pulling the security gate over the windows.

The ex-demon moved around from the counter and went to the back door 
and hesitated. "Buffy, is that you?" she called. It would be like 
the Slayer to drop by the back door after dark.

The pounding continued but got weaker.

Anya frowned again and went to the weapons wall. She felt better 
with an axe in her hands as she opened the door.

The shop owner squeaked in surprise and fear when someone tumbled 
into the shop at her feet.  

"Xander!" 

* * *

Buffy frowned at her pager. She knew the things were a good idea, as 
were the cell phones, it was just annoying to carry them. The Slayer 
glanced at the number and broke into a trot.  

"I know we tried beepers once before, why didn't we keep them?" she 
asked no one in particular as she ran along the streets of Sunnydale 
towards the shop.

The Slayer, realizing it was after closing at the Magic Box, trotted 
into the alley to the back door, hoping it was news about Willow.  
They hadn't heard from the witch since she had disappeared earlier 
that day and they were getting worried.

Buffy frowned when she walked into the workout room of the shop and 
saw Tara, Anya, Xander, Dawn and Giles fussing over someone on the 
floor. It took the Slayer a moment to realize she knew the young 
man, she barely recognized him through the blood and claw marks.

"Jonathan?" she asked softly. "What happened? Did you call 911?"

"It won't help," Giles said gently as he turned Jonathan's head to 
keep the young man from choking on his own blood. "I don't know how 
he got here."

"What happened?" Buffy repeated.

"He managed to tell us that Spike showed up at their 'hideout,'" 
Xander muttered.

"Hideout?" Buffy repeated with a puzzled frown.

"Seems that Jonathan, Andrew and Warren fancied themselves as evil 
geniuses, intent on ruling Sunnydale," Giles said bitterly. "They 
were getting ready to drive you crazy and take over the world."

"I saved Jonathan's ass several times over the years and we even 
forgave him for that?that?weird universe thing!" Buffy protested.

"I know, I think Warren was the aggressive one," Xander 
commented. "I've seen them around at comic conventions and stuff."

"So what happened? They forge Batman number 4?" Buffy demanded again.

"Spike," Anya said unhappily, knowing how much Buffy did not want to 
hear that name.

"Spike?" Buffy repeated. "No, he couldn't have. We know Jonathan's 
human."

"We also know the idiot was a computer genius and geek," Xander 
pointed out, trying to hold a large gauze pad over what was left of 
Jonathan's stomach. "Giles?"

"He's gone," Giles shook his head and sat back as the blood spread 
into the carpet.

"Spike!" Buffy demanded.

"The three evil genius types over-rode the chip in Spike's brain," 
Xander continued. "He paid them and when it worked he slaughtered 
them. Jonathan thought of you and came to warn you."

Buffy fell against the door in shock.

"No chip?" she repeated.

"No chip," Anya repeated.

"William the Bloody is unleashed," Giles nodded.

* * *

Faith paced restlessly in front of the crypt she and Spike had taken 
over after fleeing just ahead of the Scooby gang. It was in a 
cemetery across town from his last one and it had turned out to be a 
fairly quiet one.

So far they had avoided running into Buffy and the others in the last 
few days but Faith knew their time was running out. Either she had 
to surprise Buffy or get out of town and take her chances on the run.

Faith frowned as Spike jumped over a nearby wall and sauntered 
towards her. He was covered in blood and had a very manic look in 
his eyes.

"What did you do, rob a blood bank?" she smirked as he got closer.  

Faith's head snapped back with the unexpected right cross from 
Spike's fist. She tried to block the next one but the vampire 
followed up with a left cross that sent Faith flying into the tomb 
wall. Spike was on her in a split second and threw the ex-Slayer 
into the tomb and slammed the door shut behind him.

Faith scrambled backwards as Spike grinned.

"I'm back!" he growled.

* * *

Willow heard footsteps downstairs and rolled off the old musty bed 
quietly. She got to her feet and went to the window. There was a 
trellis just outside, covered with ivy vines that would either lead 
to the roof or down to the garden area. Willow wasn't amused with 
the idea of the bugs and spiders that usually made their home in ivy 
but she also didn't want to end up in a cage either.  

"Willow?" a male voice called but it didn't sound like Riley. "I 
know you're here, I tracked your energy signature here. I swear on 
anything you hold sacred that I won't hurt you and I won't turn you 
over to the Initiative. I think we can help each other."

Willow hesitated and considered running but knew if whoever was down 
there had tracked her with magic, they'd just keep coming. Hades, 
she was surprised the Gang hadn't tracked her to Angel's old mansion 
yet. Fortunately, Riley didn't know about it.

The hacker witch moved out into the hallway and looked over the 
railing, ready to spring into defense, flight or fight.

"Ethan Rayne?" Willow whispered, looking down into brown eyes. "Give 
me one good reason I don't fry you!"

"I'll give you several actually," Ethan smirked but kept his hands in 
sight. "One, you don't kill humans; two, we can help each other; 
three, I escaped from the place they want to send you."

"We have a common enemy?" Willow smiled ruefully. "You deserved to 
be there! You turned Giles into a demon knowing Buffy would try and 
kill him!"

"Yes," Ethan acknowledged. "And I'm sure you don't know what Ripper 
did to me in the past either. I was a bastard, still am. That doesn't 
change that I love Giles and hate him at the same time."

"Alright, so there's hard feelings," Willow growled. "Band candy? 
Bespelled Halloween costumes? I freaking died that night!"

"And Ripper nearly beat my kidneys in," Ethan shrugged. "Old stuff, 
what about now? We're both being hunted by the Initiative for our 
magic."

"The problem is I'm innocent and you're not," Willow snapped.

"Do you think they could take both of us on?" Ethan countered and 
Willow frowned.

"You stay downstairs, I've got upstairs," Willow growled. "I'm going 
back to bed. It's late and I'm tired."

"I'll have food down here when you wake up," Ethan offered, as if 
offering a bribe or peace offering.

"Whatever, we aren't friends," Willow growled.

Ethan grinned as Willow disappeared.  

"We will be, witch," Ethan whispered. "With a Slayer, vampire and 
witch on my game board, Giles and the Slayer don't stand a chance."

* * *

Buffy spun with a stake in hand and frowned when Riley stepped out of 
the shadows of the alley behind the Bronze.

"Still patrolling?" he asked calmly as Buffy put her stake away.

"Of course, I'm the Slayer," Buffy frowned.

"You died, Buffy," Riley protested. "Doesn't that earn you a 
retirement?"

"We've been through this, Riley," Buffy said sadly. "It's why you 
left, remember? I can't change being the Slayer. It makes me 
different and that didn't change when I came back. The world needs 
the Slayer and Faith is in on the run, that leaves me."

"I'm calling off the hunt for Willow," Riley announced. "I can't 
justify bringing her in on mere suspicion and she hasn't developed 
into the threat the officers thought she would."

"That mean we can try and find her and bring her home now?" Buffy 
demanded sarcastically.

"Yeah, it does," Riley frowned. "I'm just doing my job, Buffy. Just 
like you."

"No, Riley," Buffy snapped. "We've been through this as well. This 
isn't a goddamn job to me and it's not a 'be all you can be' career! 
You can walk away at any time! I didn't choose this and I can't walk 
away! I tried to run away from it and just found different demons and 
problems."

Riley's face didn't soften with the old argument.
Buffy put her stake away and looked at Riley carefully. Who had 
changed? Him or her? The Slayer shook her head sadly. Buffy thought 
she had loved him once.

"What now, Riley? We continue debating what we've already been over?" 
Buffy asked wearily.  

"You slipped and said you ran after my chopper that night," Riley 
said slowly. "Did you?"

"Did I what?" Buffy snapped. "Slip and mention that or did I run 
after you that night, praying to catch you and build a life with you? 
Yes, I ran after you but I was too late and you didn't hear me."

"Hear you? You were there?" Riley demanded, moving closer to the 
Slayer.

Buffy backed up.

"I got there just as you lifted off," Buffy admitted. "Why ask about 
that? You thought I didn't come and moved on. I moved on and got 
killed."

"Do you still feel that way?" Riley asked with a frown as Buffy 
backed up another foot.

"No," Buffy said bluntly. "That was a life time ago, Riley. You're 
married, I died, came back and things changed before that."

"It could be different," Riley said, his frown deepening.

"I like your wife, Riley," Buffy said calmly. "Go home to her and 
your career."

"And who do you go home to?" Riley demanded.  

"You about to mention my track record with guys?" Buffy 
snapped. "Don't bother, it's horrible. You were the only halfway 
decent one in the bunch and it's a damned small bunch. Are you 
suggesting that I settle for you?"

"Settle?" Riley shouted. "You just said I was the best and now it 
would be settling?"

"Yes," Buffy said firmly. "I don't love you, Riley. You're married. 
You're part of a government group that performs horrible tests on 
creatures that don't mean anyone harm. You're willing to lock up my 
best friend because she can do magic. Do you want me to go on?  
Hell, you probably listen to country music. It'd never work."

"But sleeping with Spike would?" Riley growled.

"What?" Buffy whispered, her eyes widening.

"It's getting out among the demons that Spike had you, Slayer," Riley 
taunted. "I can tell by your eyes it's true."

"A mistake, I wasn't thinking clearly when I came back," Buffy 
muttered. "Besides the fact that it's none of your business, it 
won't happen again and I am so not talking to you about this!"

"A vampire is better than me?" Riley demanded.

"You thought vampire whores were an answer?" Buffy countered and saw 
the anger flash in Riley's eyes again. "Drop this, Riley and go back 
to your wife."

"I may not have the authority to bring her in, but Willow is on the 
Watch List," Riley growled. "One stray lightning bolt and she's 
going down."

"The only thing that needs to go down is your ego," Buffy snapped and 
turned her back on her former lover. "Tell Sam I said hello."

Riley watched, his eyes reflecting his anguish, as Buffy walked away 
from him.