Chapter One:

It had been a while since Buffy Summers felt the race of the slay. The trill of the chase. It had been a while since she had really felt anything decent. With most of her days passed with spying on the potentials progress, sneaking looks at Giles folder to check up on him and with the occasional trip to Angel, Buffy didn't really have much of a thrill of the kill.

Dawn had left for college, her grades were decent and she hadn't hit trouble. Willow was out of reach for two weeks, she decided to go hunting with one of the slayers which was unusual. Willow stuck to the witchcraft and not really the demons.

Then again, Buffy didn't even know who this slayer was.

She stared down at the large wooden table, the windows along the walls brightening up the room yet not doing much for Buffy as her mind continued to ponder further.

Xander had moved to Australia to keep the base going out there and Buffy? Buffy was here in London keeping up appearances with the Watchers Council as instructed. She didn't do much of the fighting anymore, luckily for her, she didn't have too but she still had the weight on her shoulders. She still felt responsible for the lives at risk, fighting the battle which was once hers.

Even though she kept from the scene, Buffy still kept active logs on all the organisations progress. The sneaking around would probably help get her in some trouble though. There were certain people that Buffy didn't need to know about. Xander and Giles were part of that group.

"Buffy Summers?" Buffy straightened her posture as she stood, her slender fingers patting down the rough fizzles on her black pencil skirt. She forced a smile before tucking a strand of straight blonde hair back behind her ear, her green eyes hazed with bordem at what the meeting would hold. "I'm Geffory Crayed. Manager of the demonic research department. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Well...not much of a pleasure really, it's not like I'm royalty or anyth..." Buffy let her words trail off as she looked back up at the stern faced man in front of her, her eyes going wide as she mentally scorned herself for rambling. It had been a while since anyone brought her into a meeting. The last time was when she announced her departure from the slayer organisation.

His British accent reminded her a little of Giles and she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips as he took a seat, opening his brief case while Buffy followed in suit, placing her hands neatly on the table and trying to get a glance at what was in the case.

Her black blazer tugged at the shoulder blades, tightening the white shoulder cut off blouse underneath. Lately she had to change her wardrobe to fit in but it didn't mean she threw away all her favourite tops.

"I understand you are no longer aligned with the slayers?"

"Aligned? I-I don't work for the organisation anymore, no but-"

"Neither does your sister?"

"No she's in college-"

"Your friends?"

"Which ones?"

"Willow Rose-" Buffy cut him short.

"She doesn't work for the organisation. She helps out when asked by Giles or Xander."

"She is where now?" he continued to ask, his grey eyes settling against Buffys, his black hair gilled back almost pulling a frown clear from his face.

"Running a mission for Xander." Buffy replied.

"Right." he mumbled looking down at the documents in his hands. "We have a few disturbances in the area your friend was last located in."

Buffy's eyes had suddenly sprang to life, that feeling sneaking it's way in. It was the same one she had first felt when Xander refused to listen to them about the bug teacher, the same one she felt when Willow ignored their advice on Malcom and the same one when Dawn had her little fling with that vampire. It was worry and instant slayer mode.

"What kind?" she demanded, vulnerability completely wiped from her voice.

It was a glimpse of the slayer she once used to be.

"A uprise of demons. Most were forced underground, now they no longer remain there. There's been sightings of them, most from a conquered tribe thousands of years ago that we believed to be destroyed. Countless murders. There's been shift in power, magick somehow tore the veil apart."

"And Willow?"

"Be don't know. The track we had on her lost it's signal last night. She was last spotted in Detroit before the assembly was risen."

"Assembly?"

"The tribe. They rose there at the exact point that we lost contact with her."

Buffy stared straight at Geffory. Her eyes distant as she bit down on her bottom lip knowing what this meant. If it didn't mean that, then why tell her at all? After all, they all stopped being her business the minute she chose to leave.

"Have you sent anyone there?" Buffy questioned already knowing the answer.

"No ones trained to deal with the tribe Miss Summers."

"Alright. Book me a plane, send me the details I need to know. I'll leave in an hour." She stood leaving him rather stunned as she made her way towards the exit.

"Wait!" He yelled, jumping to his feet. "You can't handle them alone."

Buffy paused, feeling the blood boil inside her. She hated it when people would say that. They should check her background sometime. She handle the world alone although she understood his meaning at the same time. One way or another, her friends were there. She had some form of help but this was Willow. This was her best friend. Nothing would stand in her way from finding her.

"We have someone who will be a large advantage for you. A partner you can work with, who can keep up with your level of skills." Buffy turned to face Mr Crayed again, taking a few steps towards him as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned her head to the side with a look of sarcasm.

"And who, exactly would that be?" the door behind her creaked almost if on cue.

"The slayer who was with Miss Rosenburg." Buffy didn't seem impressed until she heard the clicking of heels against the old oak floor, the intense glare at the back of her neck that felt almost too familiar yet she couldn't place a face nor name to it. The slight chuckle had Buffy spinning around to face her new partner only to her eyes widen and her lips drop.

"Hey B. How you been?" that voice. That husky, yet daring voice with that smirk and long dark brown hair falling over her leather black jacket triggered many things for Buffy. Anger was one. She should have known she would be in the mist of trouble. She always was.

"Faith. Fancy seeing you here." Buffy replied allowing her arms to fall back to her side as she forced her sarcasm back into her voice as she repeated Faith's question back. "How you been?"

Faith allowed her smirk to stay placed on her brownish purplish lips, her favourite lipstick.

"Five by Five B."