It happened again. I woke up in a cold sweat. Something was coming. I was sure of it. Some big fight. I glanced over at the clock, and groaned. It was 3 a.m. Still far too early for me to be up for the day. But I felt much too awake to fall asleep.

Early morning in Scotland, I had discovered quickly, was much different than early morning in LA. Even Sunnydale had once had a bustling city nightlife comparatively. But at 3 a.m. In Glasgow? My only viable option was to patrol. So that's exactly what I did. I got dressed, gathered my things, and left. I was careful not to wake my neighbor, the elderly Mrs. Skeates.

I headed for the nearest graveyard. Scotland had been quieter than Sunnydale, but that really wasn't saying much. It was still very active, given the Hellmouth resting underneath it.

"Hey cutie. What is a nice piece like you doing out at a time like this?" A voice spoke behind me. I turned, ready for anything. The voice had been familiar. When I turned, however, I knew my mind had just been playing tricks on me. It wasn't a blonde vampire in a long black coat standing in front of me, regardless of how much I wish it had been.

"Who are you?" I don't know when it happened, but I definitely had lost my touch with the puns. The vampire stepped forward. It was clear now that he wasn't human.

"I'm your best nightmare." His face twisted into the mask of a vampire. I slowly smiled at him. Clearly, he wasn't familiar with who I was. That's what I loved about not permanently settling in one spot for too long. It was so fun, watching the realization hit them.

"Oh is that so? Am I supposed to scream now?" I pulled out the stake, hidden in my sleeve. "How about no." The vampire lunged forward. Fighting him was over far too quickly. It did little to ease the restlessness I felt.

After a while, I realized there weren't going to be any more fights tonight. The sun would be up before long, so I headed back to the town home I was renting. Mrs. Skeates was already awake, and when I came in, she invited me for a cup of coffee. She was the only other person I had met locally who drank it and we had gotten in the habit of sharing a pot every morning, She also never asked questions about the late hours I kept.

"Rough night, lass?" I nodded, wondering if she could tell just by looking at me how little I had slept. "When is that sister of yours coming to visit again?" I smiled, thinking of Dawn.

"Next week. We'll be heading for London a few days after she gets here, but I'll be coming back a week after that." Mrs. Skeates reached over and put her hand on mine.

"I'm glad she's visiting you. It'll be good for you." I nodded.
"I've missed her. More than I realized I would." I sighed. "Anyway, Mrs. Skeates. I should really get ready for the day. Do you need me to bring any groceries home tonight?"

"No, but thank you dear one. I hope you have a pleasant day." I thanked her and headed up to my home. I got ready. I was dreading the upcoming meeting, but it was important.

I called for a car and headed to the office building. It looked like a normal building to those who didn't know the truth. I knew. Secretly, these walls housed a newly assembled group of men and women. We were working on putting together a squad of Slayers for the area, but as of yet, the newbies were still too untrained.

But the Watchers' Council had felt okay sending a small group of Watcher's to keep an eye on me and the small coven of witches in the area. Giles knew I'd be able to train the newer Watchers in the unconventional. So far? All I had really been doing was meeting with the suits and going on regular patrols. Don't get me wrong, there had been plenty of action in Scotland. It's just that...well, after Sunnydale, I had been looking for something. I couldn't ever put my finger on it. For a while, Giles had agreed to let me travel. It eventually became clear, however, that I wasn't going to find what I was looking for. That's when he stationed me here. Cut off from my friends. But honestly? It's not like I could have even begun to tell them what was going on with me when I didn't even know myself.

Plus, there was the danger. We didn't even know the source, but someone was targeting the newbies. Someone was killing the girls Willow and I had turned into full Slayers. Instead of giving them the power to defend themselves, I had made them targets. And whomever it was, it didn't seem like the Slayer strength was enough to fight back.

It's why I had been sort of banished. Or, at least, a good part of the reason. I knew Giles was worried about me, not just because of this new threat. So, I was trying to make the best of what I was given. And I was enjoying living in Scotland. Really, I was. I figured if I told myself that enough, I'd believe it.

:~:~:~:

It was dark. And cold. He was alone. Everything hurt. He didn't want to move. But he knew he had to. He had to get away. Something was after him. He didn't know what, but he knew he had to run. Slowly, he stood up, gasping sharply as the movement tore parts of his burnt flesh away. He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain.

"Sir? Are you-" The rest of the girl's question was lost in a scream of fear and disgust. He shrank away from the loud noise. He moved back into the shadows of the alley he had woken up in and curled back into a ball, his hands clamped down over his ears. He just wanted it to all go away. The pain, the noise, the light. Everything. He rocked back and forth, in pain and completely freaked out.

"He's over here, milady. What do you want us to do with him?" A masculine voice spoke from close to his head. He wanted to see who it was, but he didn't dare move. Maybe they weren't talking about him. Besides, movement meant pain.

"Very well, Urien. Let us take him to the house. Quickly now. Before we're found. Mabon will be looking for us." The woman's voice faded as she walked away. Hands reached out and gently hauled him up. He couldn't help the snarl that came from his lips.

"Sorry, mate." The first, masculine voice spoke again as he was carried out of the alley. He had no strength to walk. They got to a car and he was helped into it. The pain had become too much, and his vision was going black. Voices came to him but

"I still don't understand why he's important, Makoto. He's just a vampire. A stinking, half-dust vampire."

" Hush, Consus. You know nothing of William Pratt. He is the champion we have been looking for." After that, he was lost to the darkness. Still, at least he knew his name, even if it meant little to him.