Not In Sunnydale Anymore

by queenofcamelot

Buffy escapes hell only to be captured by Manticore; a government facility created to make the perfect soldier. Buffy just wants her freedom. X-5 494 just wants to get along and follow orders. Did Manticore just find it's newest project? Special Thanks to Mrsgooglybear for being my beta on this.

1. Prologue to Chapter 18

Title: Not In Sunnydale Anymore

Author: sassy

Status: Rewrite

Rating: NC17-MA

Warning: May be unsuited for minors- viewer discretion is advised

Summary: Buffy escapes hell only to be captured by Manticore; a government facility created to make the perfect soldier. Buffy just wants her freedom. X-5 494 just wants to get along and follow orders. Did Manticore just find its newest project or did they underestimate the will of a Slayer? Buffy/Alec, pairing and Max/Logan pairing. This is BTVS Season 3 and Dark Angel season 2. I took liberties with some of the dialogue from both shows and hints of Angel. This is an; alternate universe that is created solely from the author's mind and fantasy reality.

Disclaimer: Dark Angel all related characters are copyright James Cameron. No infringement intended. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all related characters are copyright Joss Whedon. No infringement intended

Prologue

The most prominent smell was burning flesh. The putrid smell of sulfur filled the air. Daylight was a distant memory. The only illumination was a constant light from the fires that burned eternally.

No daylight.

No nighttime.

No reprieve.

Buffy was exhausted since arriving in this place for iniquity. This place of eternal punishment, also known as purgatory to the wicked and the damned; Domain for the immoral and iniquitous; where eternal suffering was awarded to the unrighteous.

She clung to the memories of her previous life as best she could. The memories shifted like rippling water in her mind. Her sleeping patterns adjusted to where she could survive on little or no sleep.

She closed her eyes briefly thinking of her mother. It was getting harder and harder to hold that memory in her head. Her mother; oh how she missed her smile, her mannerisms, her constant ribbing about going to hell; what she wouldn't give to hear her sweet voice. If only she could see her daughter now. But that was part of her previous life. Here, there was only survival.

Time had no meaning.

She just wanted to find her way out of this place. She saw few humans and tried to save the ones she could. The demons were coming after her less and less as time or what was a semblance of time here in this dark eternity. Her brutality destroying them with the justice she met out had somehow started to sink in their thick skulls. The last demon she killed begged for his life. She would have let him go if he hadn't attempted a final time to kill her. Nobody said Demons were smart.

Hell was a lot bigger than she originally thought. There were actually towns of people here and even parts with a desert wasteland. Most of the people however were so shell-shocked that their minds tended to be about as stable as silly putty.

She had killed thousands of demons. Or was it thousands? Maybe it was hundreds or maybe even millions. She had killed too many to keep count anymore.

Despite the images that were ingrained in her brain. The images of Angel being killed by her blade were the most vivid in her memory. She could barely keep her eyes closed without imaging his torture. She highly suspected that was a ploy to weaken her. Her mind however despite the hardships had remained intact. Ironically, the more tactics the creatures employed the sharper her mind became like a steel trap. Her body had turned into a veritable killing machine. She did what she had to survive. Retaining her humanity had become a daily battle, but if she did not escape soon… She feared her ability for human emotion was slowly losing its grip.

She scanned the area she has just entered. No greenery to hide behind. Just desolation as far as the eye could see. It was darker now; she knew this was hell's version of nighttime. This was also the time that things became quiet and then it was the pre amble to the gates of hell opening. She hoped to find something on the other side of the mountain that was across the desert. Her eyes shifted slightly, and she noticed a door. Her mind knew to question this. When did hell have doors out in the middle of nowhere? She approached apprehensively, still on her guard. She observed the door; a normal door practically, but a door in the middle of nowhere with no walls tended to make one's spidey senses go haywire.

A stranger she had met in one town had mentioned a possible escape on the other side of the mountains. She didn't recall him saying anything about a door.

Buffy looked at the door. She had survived this long by taking chances, looked like she was going to have to take another one. She reached for the knob with slight trepidation and was surprised to find it unlocked. She opened it to suddenly feel a great wind whooshing at her back, which yanked her through and out the other side. It slammed shut with a loud thunderous boom.

**

Chapter 1- Am I still in Hell?

Buffy awoke to feel a light breeze on her face, and the smell of sulfur – gone? She slowly opened her eyes and noticed that she was in a forest. She took in surroundings, making note of anything unusual. Aside from the lack of the smell of brimstone, the air felt less oppressive. This was new. Was this a new area of hell? Was it a new unexplored level that she had stumbled upon? Her eyes snapped widened with apprehension and she flipped landing on her feet. She heard birds chirping in the distance. Something was wrong; she could feel it.

It was a trap.

It had to be…

Was this some ploy by her enemy to make her think that she was not in hell? Her entire body went in automatic defense. She observed her surroundings with an eagle's eye. It looked like home, but a lot more trees. She could not trust her eyes. She had survived this long by trusting her mind and not her eyes. This couldn't be real. It was a diversion. It had to be. Somehow, they were trying to trick her into believing she was home. Her heartbeat still remained even, despite the fact she was on full alert, her visual only partially blocked by a great deal of foliage. When the demons decided to show themselves, she would be ready. She wouldn't let them get the upper hand.

A loud snap of a twig, startled her causing her to scan her immediate vicinity for the intruder or intruders, whatever the case may be. Sensing the attack coming from the left, she turned ready to fight in the direction of the sound. She held her fighting stance, ready to fight.

The click of the guns did not intimidate her in the least. Please, was this weak attempt by El Diablo? Was this all he had? Had it not learned anything by watching her thus far?

Within seconds she was surrounded by the uniform soldiers, all guns pointed at her. She held her stance without batting an eye waiting for the soldiers – who weren't setting off any demon alarms in her head. But you could never be too careful; humans or what used to humans were never trustworthy. Then the fact they were in hell was a big indicator that they weren't exactly trustworthy when they were alive.

She held perfectly still, waiting for them to make their move. Guns were seldom used in hell, but if they thought they could take her down with them, then they had seriously underestimated her.

The largest soldier stepped in front of the others and spoke without emotion. "State your designation." He held his gun steadily in her face. His face schooled into a hardened glare down in the face of the small slip of a female.

"Kicking your ass… if you don't get that damn gun out of my face…" Buffy stated without blinking or giving what ever the hell these things were the satisfaction of her lowering her eyes. Buffy narrowed her eyes, letting the creatures who stood before her know she was not backing down. Her mind was still in full fight mode. She was the Slayer; did they honestly think she was going to fall for this crap?

A second man spoke into a radio attached to his shoulder. "Sir, we found one. … No. … Not sure the series. … Affirmative."

A silent hand command by the first man – the one who had asked her what her designation was – ordered with an hand signal to the others. Before Buffy could react, she heard a zing then a burning sensation in her right shoulder. She twisted and looked down to see that she had been shot with some type of tranquilizer. The dart sticking out of her shoulder, she grimaced, pulled it out, and threw it on the ground toward the men surrounding her. With a loud battle cry, Buffy grabbed one of the men and ripped the gun out of his hands. She clubbed him with his gun and he was thrown from the fighting frenzy landing several feet away. There was a flurry of fists as Buffy attacked the men without ceasing until she felt another stabbing pain in her leg. 'The bastards had shot her again.

Buffy staggered, suddenly the world felt like she was on a merry-go-round. Hey, was that Dr. Phil she just saw in the corner of her eye?

The world began to spin faster and she fell to her knees then her body went limp and she fell to the soft earth unconscious.

Voices began to sound further and further away. The darkness consumed her and she accepted it like a warm blanket to shield her from the cold. Her last thoughts being, 'they finally trapped me.'

Then all was silent.

**

She was aware she was being carried. Although it felt to her like, her body was on a cloud slowly moving. She heard only parts of conversation from various voices as she swam in and out of consciousness. Her mind trying desperately to grasp what was happening to her. She had to fight whatever they hit her with. This was only a temporary setback. She had fought too hard and too long to succumb to this ambush. The voices came and went as a soft whisper. She attempted to focus to find her vision blurred with images.

"Not one of ours… no barcode… took out most of my men… had to shoot her twice just to bring her down…" The speech was as broken as her mind trying to wrap itself around what was happening around her.

Finally, she felt her body hit a hard surface. Then the sound of a large metal door slammed. A sound this loud usually would have woken her from this state. However, her body was exhausted and her tranquilized system was working overtime. He mind and body finally, after struggling for at least thirty minutes, fell into a dreamless sleep.

Buffy fought hard against the darkness and groggily awoke to find herself in some type of jail cell. She was laid on cot trickles of blood dried on her shoulder from where they had shot her. Her lids fluttered, as she became awake.

Suddenly a hinge creaked causing her to jump off the cot into a fighting stance when she heard the noise. The door opened and an older gentleman with hair graying at his temples entered her cell. He nodded to the armed man, who gave Buffy a condescending look? The man after nodding to the other soldier caused him to immediately slam the door with a loud thunderous boom. The older man walked slowly and sat down in a chair across from her. His actions were somewhat reserved. He seemed almost concerned. She silently observed him for several moments, noticing that he was obviously human. He wasn't setting off any of her Slayer alarms in her head. This gave her some ease as she sat back down on the cot, but held herself ready to protect herself if need be.

"So… you want to tell me what you were doing on our property." The man continued to assess her with what she assumed was an eagle eye but his voice was sedate as if he was trying to ease her without causing alarm.

"Looking for a nice place for a picnic and got lost." Her comment dripped sarcasm. Who said hell took away her ability to quip.

"Great, just what I need another smart-mouthed girl." He muttered, almost as though to himself. "Look, missy… You're not one of ours. So you why don't you tell me what you are?" His voice rose on the second question, so much for calm and mild.

Slowly, Buffy dropped her arms, relaxing only slightly. The man appeared human. No supernatural power emanating from him. So what the hell? Not like she thought he was going to let her go with a pat on her head?

"At this point…" Buffy splayed her hands in the air, "Irritated…, or is this just another one of the wonderful mysterious of hell?" The comment rolled off her tongue with ease. She still had it, her sense of humor.

"Hell?" The man's face held the confusion at the girl's sarcastic answers. The young girl appeared like a frightened animal at first glance. The problem with frightened animals was they attacked first and asked questions later. Her clothes torn, but she was clean despite the condition of her clothes. She was most likely someone who got lost. But the fact that she just popped up on their security perimeters out of nowhere was still causing unease in him and he knew this was one time he would not be able to let this girl go and no questions would be asked.

"Yeah… Ya'know, demons, man with a pitchfork, yadda, yadda." Buffy replied with an even tone; her eyebrow quirked in his direction with a smile and a sneer.

"Do you have any idea where you are?" The man's face held concern with a touch of disbelief. She stared him down without any fear. This was not normal for anyone, especially in today's society. He was a soldier. Most civilians wouldn't even hold eye contact, let alone glare at him, daring him to make a move. But this little tiny thing was dismissing him like he was no threat.

"No. Why don't you tell me?" Buffy gave her sweet saccharine smile with her eyes fluttering in mock surrender.

"You're at a military operations base in Seattle, Washington. You popped out of nowhere on a grid. So, I want to know how you were able to do this. Who sent you?" The man, who obviously was an authority figure, observed the young girl, trying to gage her reaction so he could report to his superiors if the girl was a danger to the project.

Buffy immediately clammed up. This man had an air about him that was all business – if she didn't ease up on her quips; she was never going to get the opportunity to escape whatever latest attempt this was by demons to confuse her yet again. She crossed her arms but refused to lower her eyes.

Rule #1: Never back down from the enemy or show weakness.

Rule #2: Never willingly give the enemy information.

"You can keep your secrets. But just know you might as well get comfortable. You are not going anywhere." He stood, realizing the girl may have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, his protocol for intruders was straightforward. He turned to leave, signaling the guard to let him out. But stopped before he left, his back still turned. "I will have the guards bring you a change of clothes and bring you dinner. You have a shower behind the curtain." Then he left leaving Buffy to contemplate her next move.

Wait did he mention a shower – with soap? It had been so long since she had experienced the wonders of running water. The lakes and streams sufficed when necessary.

Buffy wasn't sure how she was going to get out of this, but she had to. If being in hell taught her nothing, it was survival. So, she would keep quiet and observe to see what this latest plan by the demons was to throw her off her game.

**

The man stood before a large overhead screen, with live feed from Washington in the utmost corner. The pristine conference room that appeared on the screen held a large decorated soldier. The screen was in the middle of the room, it being the focal point. On screen behind the general were seated several gentlemen around a large oblong table.

"So what do we have on this newest addition?" The man from the screen spoke. His air bespoke wisdom with authority.

"Nothing, sir." The soldier stood before the screen in apt attention. "She seems to be suffering from some type of delusion. She kept screaming about demons, sir. I think she may just be a transient."

"Agent Finn, that's not the kind of news, I was hoping for." His displeasure was evident in his face and voice.

"Sir... with all due respect... she's not one of ours... let her go. I don't believe she represents a threat and who would believe a transient, who is obviously unstable."

The soldier was trying desperately to have his superiors release the girl. He knew that if she were left there for too long, letting her go would no longer be an option. There was talk of needing breeders at the previous meeting. This girl, whoever she was, did not deserve to be filled with a sub-human child. He might have to take part in the less savory jobs of the government, but he did not like involving civilians.

"No, that's a negative. We don't know what she has seen or knows, she popped up on a security grid. A security grid that I was assured was UNBREAKABLE! She took down several trained men without batting an eye. She may not be one of ours, but she's something. I want tests run. Who she is? Or what she is? And what she was doing on a secure grid?"

"Yes, sir..." Riley saluted the man on screen.

The general returned the salute and the screen went dark. Sometimes his position in this military unit left him with a sense of disgust of the less desirable jobs that it required. He was going to have to give her to the medical team to observe and run tests. His eyes closed in silent frustration. This poor girl, she had no idea what she was in for.

Riley had long ago learned to hide his knowledge of the supernatural. Demons may exist but still some superiors that wanted to live in denial. Also, if he convinced the General the young girl was insane, she might have a better chance of being let go. Riley had spent the last 20 plus years just trying to be a good soldier. His compassion was not something he was allowed to show openly. A lot of times, he had to give the guise of not being bothered to help the innocents; that somehow found themselves in Manticore's clutches.

**

Buffy adapted to functioning on little or no sleep, always keeping at least one eye open. Her motto was sleep when you could, and always be prepared for 'fight or flight'. You never knew when or if the demons would attack. She had not felt her spidey sense tingling at all. So, it was a good guess that she was safe for the moment. Unless, of course, the demons were trying a new tactic; But if this was an illusion, why had they not tried this before? They had had ample opportunity.

She had lost all sense of time while she was in hell. The first few days, when she attempted to catch a few winks back when she first came to hell she was bombarded with images of killing Angel. She had loved him so much. But that was what she was: a Slayer and Slayers had to always put the needs of the many above their own needs and feelings.

She missed her mom so much, but her mom had told her to leave and not come back. So, she ended up in LA working at a local diner and taking care of herself. She had settled into her simple life until Lilly, a.k.a. Chanterelle, showed up first blaming her for the demons killing her boyfriend. Then no sooner had she accused her, she begged for Buffy's help. Being who she was, Buffy would never leave someone high and dry. It was instilled in her to help if she could. Besides Lilly was pretty helpless and Buffy's sympathetic nature kicked in and caused her to offer the girl help.

Buffy was able to release many of the prisoners along with Lilly. She slew the majority of the demons during their dash to freedom. The fight was hard but nothing Buffy couldn't handle. She fought and freed Lilly along with a small group, leading them to sweet emancipation. Unfortunately, for Buffy, she had been stuck in hell's clutches.

The factory was the one of many entrances to hell. Rather than curse her fate, Buffy slaughtered all the demons in the factory. Then she escaped to the outside realm. The realm on the outside was a war zone in most places. The few places she sought refuge, supplied her with basic needs.

Most of the people, that had been left behind did not have much left of their memories or minds. The ones who did not right out die, deliberately ran to the demons to end their misery. By her estimate, it only felt like a week but time in hell moved slower or at least seemed that way. Guess that's why demons didn't age or maybe it was so the sinners and hell bound had longer to suffer.

She had tried to help the stragglers, but one had even turned her in to the enemy. He had falsely believed that giving them the Slayer would allow him mercy for his transgressions or, better yet, freedom. His reward was being torn apart by hellhounds.

After that, she learned to trust only herself. She had run into one person, who did not look like she belonged. The woman told her, there are many sins to bring one to hell, and hers was to trade her life for another. She was wise and warned about several dangers. Including the fact, that time in hell moved differently than the outside world.

Buffy leaned back against the bunk, pondering her next move. She took the opportunity to meditate and bring focus to her cloudy mind. At her best guesstimate, she had been there only a year, maybe more. If, it turned out, that this new place was actually home -Earth. Then she planned as soon as an opportunity presented itself; to right all the wrongs she had incurred. She was going to tell her mom how much she loved her and repair the relationship with her watcher Giles.

She silently berated herself; here she was getting misty-eyed when she was going to get out of this. She just had to be patient and focus and, above all show no weakness.

She sat on the cot Indian style. Her body felt more refreshed after her shower. It felt like she had scrubbed off three layers of hell.

During her silent introspection, someone had apparently entered her cell. He was the same man from earlier. He had several armed soldiers behind him, bringing up the rear. They formed a semi-circle around the Slayer. The guns all pointed in her direction.

"Didn't your mommies ever teach you it's rude to point?"

How could she know they had guns pointed at her? Her eyes were not even open.

The soldiers had heard of the previous group that had brought her in and took a step back behind their commander. They followed orders, but they were not stupid.

"We're going to have to ask you to come with us." The older gentleman said calmly. His mask showed none of the pity he felt for the young girl.

"Gee… you got a funny way of asking." Buffy opened her eyes, crossed her arms, and glared at the soldiers behind the man, "They your welcoming party?"

"You will come with us willingly or we can tranquilize you again. But make no mistake, you will come with us."

Buffy huffed, then proceeded to stand with grace and followed the officer out of the doors with the soldiers following close behind. She walked slowly, taking in her surroundings to search for any weakness for her ultimate escape. Her eyes darted taking in all her current environment. She knew that she had the two guards in front, two in back. The older gentlemen seemed to be in charge. She scanned the immediate area with an eagle eye. She noticed a courtyard to her right and several what looked to be soldiers training. This being the first time she had seen other people who did not seem to be hell bound, she seized the moment. She fell forward as though she stumbled then she grabbed the head soldier by the throat and turned him around with his back to her chest and forced him to his knees daring the other soldiers to make a move.

"Back off… or we get to see if head screws off." Her arm curved around his throat.

Lesson #3 = Always take down the leader first.

"Captain?" The armed escorts looked to their commander with fear, waiting for his silent command.

"Kill me if you want… you'll never make it past the woods." Riley spoke without reserve. Somehow he sensed this girl did not want to kill him unless necessary.

She hesitated only a second, she knew she was going to pay for that. She threw the man to the ground, knocking out the two soldiers in front of her. She hadn't used all her strength. He seemed somewhat nice in an 'I am the big soldier way.' So, she had no real desire to hurt him, unless he forced her hand.

She ran to the side door, leading into the courtyard of where the others were being trained. She couldn't risk going too far, especially in unfamiliar territory. It was best to get out into the open, where escape was more likely. She threw her body against the doors. They broke with a shattering of glass.

Taking aim from years of expert training; the two guards she had left standing took aim and shot Buffy. The first dart hit her in the thigh. That only slowed her down. She ripped the door open, but before she could even smell the sweet freedom, everything started getting blurry. The bastard had got her in the back as well. She struggled with the dart, trying to get as far as she could when she passed out. Her final thoughts were scattered as she once again fell into unconsciousness. She was going to kick someone's ass this time; that was the last thought before she succumbed to the dark once more.

**

Loud whirs and clanks of the computers filled the pristine lab, as the worker bees – all wearing the traditional white lab coats – sprinted around reading printouts and placing samples in Petri dishes. The farthest wall was completely covered from top to bottom with machinery that looked like something out of Terminator. The hushed voices were consumed with trying to see who would be nominated to observe the newest anomaly that just showed up at the secret base.

There were several people crowded around medical cots, taking samples and performing tests on various hideous creatures that simply looked like kids in Halloween masks.

Riley entered the lab and approached a short, dark-haired gentleman. He was followed by a couple of soldiers. The soldiers carried the young blonde like a sack and once they reached the cot that they were directed to, they tossed her like a rucksack with no gentle finesse.

"Is this the girl?" The man in the lab coat asked with a strange look on his face, looking back to Riley with a frown.

"Is there a problem, Dr. Levinson?" Riley asked with slight confusion on his face.

The man, who obviously was perplexed about something, finally replied. "I'm not sure, Agent Finn." The doctor leaned down to get a better look at her face, once she was placed on a table. "I think I know her."

"Doctor?"

"I mean… I don't know how… it's not even possible… but she looks just like a girl I went to school with." Jonathan placed a single finger on the tip of his chin to ponder why the girl looked so familiar.

Riley glanced around the room to see if anyone was listening; here at Manticore, you never knew who would betray you for a promotion or a simple steak dinner. Riley moved closer to the man and whispered. "Jonathan, what do you mean?"

"I mean, I can't be sure… but… remember back when we met?" He scratched his head in a habit he had acquired some years ago.

Riley's face showed instant understanding, but not sure, where his friend was going with this. "Sunnydale?"

"Yes, before Faith." Jonathan lowered his eyes at the memory. "There was supposedly a Slayer before her and there were rumors about Buffy. Nothing concrete, mind you, but I always thought… maybe. But you dated Faith, before her…" Jonathan stopped unable to finish knowing how sensitive a subject Faith still was with Riley even now, many years later.

"Yeah. I know. But how is this possible… where has she been all this time?" Riley waved off the memory, the last thing he needed was to be reminded of the woman he loved more than his own life.

"Did she ever talk about it or mention the previous slayer?" Jonathan refused to use her name more than necessary.

Riley smiled grimly at Jonathan, "She told me very little, just that there was a previous Slayer and one time when Mr. Giles…" Riley was fighting hard not to get choked up.

"The watcher, right?"

"Yes, he was… he was… Well, he apparently been drinking and told me about… What did you say her name was again?" Riley continued.

"Buffy." Jonathan answered automatically.

"How she was the Slayer and she up and vanished and that Faith showed up three months later, that there was a fight to the death with somebody she loved and it was just too much for her so she left."

Riley mused at the memory, not wanting to get too caught up in the demons from his past. Faith was the reason he never married. He was on a mission to Belize, two months later when he returned to find, that Faith had died and Giles; having lost two Slayers in such a short time, had married and moved back to England. He looked up to Jonathan to see that he was asking him a question, obviously not for the first time.

"Do you still have your connections at the Watchers' Council?"

"Mr. Giles disappeared right after the Pulse, but Mr. Wyndham-Pryce, I believe, is still there." Riley confirmed with confidence.

"Would you be able to contact him?"

"Certainly." Riley raised a questioning eye at his long-time friend.

Jonathan perused the lab once more to make sure no one was listening to the conversation. "I have a hunch… but let's keep this between us, until I'm certain. We don't want to raise any unnecessary flags."

With a nod in Jonathan's direction, Riley left the lab intent on trying to help the young girl. Because if Jonathan was right and she was a Slayer, this girl would be a prize among prizes at Manticore and he wasn't exactly sure how his superiors, who did not always consider the emotions of their projects, would use this girl for a crazy experiment.

**

Several hours later Buffy was still strapped to the steel table, her eyes fluttered slightly unknown to the other cohabitants of the room.

Jonathan and Warren were busy scribbling notes. Several wires and various pieces of machinery were attached to the arms, legs, and temple of the Slayer.

Renfro entered the room with her usual swagger. She always held herself above most of the employees of Manticore. Her smirk displayed the contempt for people who did not agree with her tactics. She approached Jonathan, her face void of any emotion and began to question him. "So what do you have on our little friend here?"

"Ma'am, we have a couple of anomalies that keep popping up. Her heart rate and vitals are fairly normal, so no abnormalities there. Her capability to fight the sedation is… well, to be honest… astounding. She fought so hard that at one point we had to set up a system to inject every thirty minutes. The problem is her body keeps adjusting and fighting the sedation like your blood would fight a virus every couple of hours." Jonathan relayed the information with a small amount of pride.

"So in other words…" Renfro sometimes felt like she was pulling teeth getting information out of Dr. Levinson. If he weren't such a genius, she would have asked for his removal long ago.

"Her blood is… I am not sure there's a word. Her body is compensating every time we inject her. So we have to go to almost lethal doses to keep her sedated." Jonathan glanced back at the sleeping Slayer, then back to Renfro.

"Is she thoroughly sedated now?" Renfro widened her eyes in mock irritation.

"Yes, there's no way she could wake up." Jonathan replied with certainty.

Renfro walked silently near the steel altar, turning her head from side to side observing the young girl. One of the machines started to sound an alarm. Her mind was so concentrated on her task that she didn't notice Buffy's eyelids started to move.

Buffy woke up with a sudden start and reached out to wrap her warm hands around the skinny, bleached-blonde enemy's neck. Her breathing rapid, she scanned the room in which she was held, looking for weakness to allow an escape. She began to pull off the various wires attached to her, not once losing contact with Renfro's neck. Buffy was startled by the cold look in the woman's eyes.

Buffy was running on pure adrenaline, in complete survival mode and unaware that she had started to squeeze the neck of the woman she was holding. She pulled the wire away from her temple and wrapped it around the woman's neck.

The armed guards immediately trained their weapons on Buffy. When they looked as though they might approach her, Buffy ruthlessly pulled the wire tighter around her captive's neck.

"Now, I am going to talk and you are going to listen. First call off your G.I Joes or we get to see how long you can hold your breath." Buffy hissed in anger.

Renfro motioned for the guards to stand down. The soldiers dropped their weapons, but refused to leave Renfro. They waited, silently watching for Buffy to make a mistake, to give them one small chance.

"Good! Now we're communicating… you are going to tell me where I am and then you're going to tell all the little boy scouts in here to let me go. We clear so far?" Buffy spat out with total authority. After a nod yes from Renfro, Buffy loosened the wire a little, but not enough to allow her ticket to freedom to escape.

"You're in an operations base in Seattle, Washington." Renfro replied, bored with the whole conversation already.

Buffy was irritated at the women for not giving her what she wanted. Her eyes darted around the room the entire time to look for any avenue of escape. "Good… but I know this already. Why am I here?"

Suddenly Renfro smiled internally, this was going to be too easy. The girl had no clue, where she was. "You were found and brought here. We're a medical facility. A secure location... Is there someone who we should call to let them know we found you?"

Buffy grimaced with a slight shake of her head; this woman's voice was like a hypnotic song that played in her head. She licked her dry lips in an attempt to reign in her thoughts. Her thoughts and emotions all whirled together as she fought to get the words out. Before she could stop herself, she was spouting everything. "Giles, Rupert Giles. I need to find him… need to get to Sunnydale."

"Okay, but I can't do that if you are choking me." Renfro knew the hypno-drug that Meirs had injected into Buffy earlier was starting to take effect.

Buffy's grip loosened, but her chokehold was still evident. "Now I am going to let you go, but any funny business and I will kill you and anyone else that gets in my way… We clear?"

Renfro turned to face Buffy, "Certainly." Signaling behind her back for them to back off slightly but call reinforcements. The soldiers sent out the signal for back up telepathically. Their eyes never leaving their commander or the girl; "Do we get the honor of knowing your name?"

"Buffy." Buffy rasped. She winced slightly. Her throat was dry and her head had started to throb.

"Last name?" Renfro questioned with a smile.

"Summers," she added in a whisper. "You can find Giles for me?"

"We will find him and you can see him… we just need your cooperation. So how did you get here?" Renfro was trying to pry more information before her sleeping agent kicked in.

Buffy suddenly found herself feeling very woozy. She tried to focus, she just needed to tell this woman what she wanted, and she would bring her to Giles. "I found a door… the demons were going to ambush me… I couldn't seem to…" Buffy swayed slightly as darkness began to overtake her. "I just need to find Gil–" And that's all that got out before she passed out onto the floor. Letting go of Renfro, her boneless form slumped, hitting the main rail on the steel table.

Renfro rubbed her neck in annoyance; she motioned for the soldiers to attend the girl who had passed out. She walked directly in front of Jonathan, her eyes blazing with calm reserve. Her hand moved so fast, not even the transgenic could have seen it. The loud slap ricocheted through the sterile room, her anger evident to all.

"That's for assuring me she was sedated." She motioned for the soldiers to pick up Buffy and place her back on the steel table. "There is no way this girl is just human. Have Sytrel do a background check on one Buffy Summers and Rupert Giles. I want every scrap of information we can find on both." Turning back to Jonathan, her face slipped back in a calm facade, her voice calm with a steely edge. "You screwed up. Meirs will be charge from now on."

"Yes, ma'am." Jonathan replied his face still stinging from the slap he received. He stepped back, he could still help, and Meirs taking over would buy more time.

Renfro then acknowledged the other doctor in the vicinity.

"Dr. Meirs, you will begin testing her. I want a full report on all her abilities. She seems to be exceptionally strong… does she have any weaknesses? I will be checking in periodically. Also, is she fertile? Would she be able to reproduce?" Renfro turned slightly from Warren and Jonathan. "I think we may have found another project."

She left the room with a smile on her face to go taunt her other pain in the ass, X5-452, the dark blue marks on her neck still prominent. Things were finally working to her favor.

**

Max pulled herself out from under the bunk as Alec offered her a hand to stand. She looked to the man to gauge whether he was going to alert the others. Standing and brushing off her hands on her pants, she crossed her arms waiting for the asshole she had aptly coined Alec.

"You forget we had a date tonight?" Alec walked forward, a raised eyebrow in Max's direction.

Max asked, "How long before the storm troopers bust in here?" rolling her eyes at the sarcastic X-5, she had renamed Alec.

"Don't worry. I didn't set off the alarm. Not yet." Alec retorted. The conversation was interrupted when there was a loud voice yelling over the internal comms. They both turned their head to hear a loud screech. The guard outside their door's comm was going crazy. Suddenly there was a commotion heard outside the cell.

"WE NEED SECTOR 12 GUARDS TO THE LAB STAT! This is not a drill." The guard's shoulder-com rang out through the static. "I repeat this is NOT a DRILL!"

Alec, curious as to what is going on, walked over to the door, banging to get the guard's attention. "So what's going on?"

The guard shrugged as he replied. "New project's been giving Renfro hell all week. Don't worry; she won't make it down this hall, so you two lovebirds are safe." He smiled at Alec.

"One girl is giving them all this trouble?" Alec quizzed. "Oh, before I forget." Alec produced a bottle and a box of cigars, handing them to the guard outside the door.

"Yeah, the cigars are going to have to wait for Vic. She gave him a busted lip and broke his arm. And she busted Finn's kneecap. They had to increase the sedation to maximum just to keep this girl under."

"She's that big a problem then why not just terminate her?" Alec stated matter of fact, his interest now peaked.

"Said she's too valuable." The guard snorted on the word valuable.

"Look out; Max… looks like there's somebody who's a bigger pain than you." Alec turned to reply to Max. She just smirked and rolled her eyes at the irritating X-5. Alec turned back to the guard. "I'm ready to go to my cell now."

"Sorry. Orders are nobody moves until she is locked down securely..."

Suddenly a blonde blur streaked by. Guards chased the blur down the hall. She was graceful as she flipped over the guards, landing on her feet.

She smirked to her would be captors, "What's wrong fellas? Can't take one little girl?"

Several soldiers ran past the cell, shouting expletives to the blonde who was not intimidated by them. "Bring her down… now!" Shouted one of the guards, Sounds of a scuffle and punches being thrown were heard. Then silence. Riley was seen heading down the hall, his limp still very prominent.

"I told you, no uncalled for violence." His voice rang out in irritation.

"But, sir! She broke Sheldon's nose and she was going for Tyler's –" The soldier spouted defensively.

"That's enough. Stand down, soldier." Riley spoke using all of his authority.

"Sir, yes, sir." The soldier nodded, realizing that Riley was his superior and when he said no violence, the order was to be followed.

"Strap her down and we'll try this again." Riley replied, his exhaustion rising in his voice.

The soldiers carried Buffy back along the corridor they had chased her down, her body limp from the several tranquilizer darts protruding from her arm and thighs.

Riley gazed to the cell then the guard outside the cell, Giving Alec a look, then his guard. "You didn't see anything, Private."

The guard replied without hesitation, "No, sir." Once out of earshot, the guard muttered a remark under his breath and Alec heard him clearly. "She's a regular spitfire, that one." Then he turned to Alec. "Once she's secured I'll take you back to your cell."

"She like this everyday?" Alec wondered, his mind straying to the blonde, who apparently had the whole compound up in arms.

"Sometimes worse… You couldn't pay me enough to be her guard. They'd have to up my hazard pay." The guard replied with no qualms about how guarding the hellion would be his last choice.

Alec's curiosity peaked about the tiny assailant. The guard obviously wanted to gossip and Alec did one of the things he was trained to do – listen and observe. "So what do you know about her?"

"Renfro refuses to be in lab without at least four guards with her and the girl restrained. She apparently went crazy during one of the laser treatments and tried to wrap the wires around Renfro's throat. I would have paid to see that." He laughed.

"So what model is she?" Alec still stared in the direction they took the girl.

"That's the thing – she's not. She's some supposed mystic warrior, and if you believe in that shit… I got a two-hundred acre estate I can sell you."

His comm. rang out. "Area secure."

"I can take you back to your cell now, Looks like they have her sedated again." He prepared to open the door while Alec mused on the mystery person. His mind snapped back to the guard. Wasn't his business anyway? He just liked having something to talk about, and you never knew when the information could benefit him.

Max had listened quietly between the exchange between the guard and Alec. She definitely needed to find out who this girl was. If she was attempting to escape maybe, she could be a worthy ally. When Max saw, the guards take Alec. She wondered about this mystical warrior thing and how it was striking a memory with her.

**

Buffy awoke to find herself once again in a cell. She felt groggy and disoriented; like back when she was drugged at that frat party. She tried to gather the thoughts in her head, but it was like something was blocking it. She remembered a bleach blonde lady… she kind of looked like a female Spike, who kept telling her if she wanted to see Giles, she had to obey. Her head was pounding. She had to re-evaluate. Her head felt the size of a watermelon and the images she was getting just didn't make any sense. She grabbed her head trying to just will the pain away as it played like a heavy metal song in her head.

Dream Sequence

"Obey… fight… survive … fight…" She kept hearing a voice to tell her to give in and the other voice stronger kept telling her to fight.

"You are the Slayer… the one girl in all- the- world to fight…" Giles voice resonated.

She lay on the bunk in her cell; her hands covered her ears trying to keep the conflicting voices out without success. Each voice grew stronger until she fell into a deep sleep.

The lush landscape surrounding her became clearer by the minute, her ears focused on the voice calling to her from behind.

"Buffy?"

Buffy turned to face the voice and a smile graced her lips. "Oh my god… Giles… it's you!" Buffy ran to Giles in her dream. "I can't believe it's you! Giles, I'm so confused… I don't know what to do!" Her arms gripped him tight in a bear hug.

Gently he pulled her arms down to look into her eyes. His fatherly look made her pause, and he gripped her forearms gently. "Buffy, listen to me, there's not a lot of time. No matter what happens, remember that you are the Slayer... Nothing can take that away from you. They will try to trick you, but you must stay strong. Do not trust your eyes… Listen to your heart. They will be coming soon. You are everything a father could ever hope for… be brave… survive."

Tears began to flow down her cheeks – she didn't want to leave this safe haven. Giles was here. She knew that she would have to though. Her mind tried to cling onto the memory. A voice called from far away. "Buffy, it's time to wake up." She heard her mother's voice far away.

End dream sequence –

**

Barely restrained voices echoed down the long winding hallway leading into a room, where an armed soldier stood outside the door. The argument had started over twenty minutes ago and was still going strong. The armed soldier stood, listened to the raised voices of the room's occupants.

Anger sparked from Riley as he stood toe to toe with Renfro. The room had a stark appearance like most of Manticore's rooms. No warmth emanated from its confines. Renfro stood and glared at the large soldier. Her visage unmoving, "Finn, I want Buffy to be tested with the other soldiers to see how strong she is."

"But… ma'am… she's just a girl." Riley kept his temper in check but was flabbergasted by the nerve of this woman. He was always of the mind to never strike a woman… but this banshee was quickly causing him to rethink that etiquette.

Renfro, who up until this point was stoic, whipped her head to the side in anger and her back stiff with an imaginary regality she believed she had.

"Agent Finn, are you questioning me?" Renfro raised an eyebrow; agitated that Riley seemed to be very iffy with this girl. She had never had to worry about him following orders in the past, but somehow a girl who no one seemed to know was making her doubt his allegiance.

"No, but –" Riley argued, unable to finish his sentence when Renfro interrupted with a snort.

"Finn, I can demote you for insubordination. Is that what you want?" Renfro retorted, quickly loosing patience with this particular subject.

Realizing that in order to help Buffy he had to keep his guise of cooperation in tact, Riley shook his head. "I'll have it set up for her to train with the Rim's X-5 unit. But know I don't..."

Renfro dismissed Riley without even acknowledging the second half of what he had intended to say.

"Good. I will expect your written report by the end of the day."

She turned to leave, stepping out of the door with an oblivious air to all except her newest little project, leaving Riley to sigh in aggravation and set to a task that was slowly leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He sent word to have Vic and Forrest take her to hand-to-hand class early in the morning. His knee still throbbed from the skirmish earlier in the week with the girl. He was currently waiting from word from Wesley. If he could stall them enough, and it turned out this girl was Buffy Summers the Vampire Slayer, then the Watchers' Council could step in and save her from Renfro's mad scientist, Meirs.

**

Buffy awoke with a start, only remembering fragments of her dream. She felt stronger this morning, as if the dream she could barely remember had given her strength. Her forehead crinkled with determination. She did know one thing though, so far her fighting spirit had earned her a stay in some type of dark hole she had heard somebody call solitary. She remembered a group of soldiers beating her down, but she gave them a run for their money. None of them walked away from that scrap...well none of them walked. She chuckled to herself. No. She needed to try to stop fighting, even though it was in the Slayers spirit to fight. It was time to try a new tactic. Maybe if she didn't give in but held back a little, more opportunities might arise. Maybe, just maybe, the chance to escape would become available. She could reunite with Giles and the other Scoobies.

At an estimate, she had been here for about two weeks; and every now and then, she would optimistically check the marks she had made behind her bunk in the hopes that she may have made a mark and forgot to count it, but to no avail. Her best guess at the time had been measured by the darkening shadows that appeared at her barred window – well, Small Square of daylight might be more accurate.

**

Buffy was trying her new idea of slight compliance. It was working; they trusted her enough to take her around the complex a bit. Today she was led out to a group of soldiers, who were training. The drill sergeant had a huge smirk on his face, looking her up and down as if she was not worth his time.

"Is Finn kidding?" He looked to Vic and Forest, who had brought the little slip of a girl to him. "What am I supposed to do with this little girl?" Johnson sneered, seemingly insulted by Buffy's presence.

Forest spoke firmly to relate the Intel he was asked to pass on about the mystery girl. "Sir, she took down several X-7 easily and without prejudice. I'm told she can hold her own and Renfro said not to hold anything back on her."

The drill sergeant walked around her and laughed softly. "No problem. I guess we will just have to break her in the old fashioned way. Hope you don't bruise easy, sweet-cheeks, because you're about to play with the big boys." The soldier snorted, with a condescending smile.

Buffy had to bite her lip to keep her mouth closed. She wanted so badly to smack the smirk off Drill Sergeant Jackass. If she knew that, they wouldn't shoot her again with those damn darts… She was building a resistance to whatever they were but they hurt like a bitch when she pulled them out. The smarmy drill instructor turned to address the others in this little band of soldiers of fortune. Buffy's glance to the right and left let her know there were several tranquilizer guns pointed at her from varying degrees. She stood in a slouch. She crossed her arms in annoyance and rolled her eyes, then watched the soldiers all take commands from this jackass. He got up in person after person's face, yelled numbers at them, and proceeded to tell them they were dirt and the idiots just stood there and took it. If he got in her face, she was going to break his arm, damn the consequences.

Finally, the jackass everyone had referred to as Sergeant Johnson (she wondered if he knew that his name was slang for dick) pointed in Buffy's direction. She smiled at the internal quip and realized the grunt was directed at her this time.

"YOU and X5-, displays hand to hand combat." The drill instructor had pointed to Buffy and another female.

The X5 automatically replied without any hesitation, moving directly to the area that the man pointed to. Buffy, however, looked bored. She looked around as if she were ignoring his commands.

"I was speaking to you!" The soldier rang out with a bellow.

Buffy gave one of her trademark smirks. Her stance screamed of disrespect. If Renfro hadn't told him that she was to be tested and not beaten, he could see himself beating this girl into respect for the position he held.

"Oh goody, I'm all chosen again." She walked slowly up to the area, taking her time as if she had all the time in the world.

She dropped her arms and dropped her attitude for a second. The girl in front of her was at least a foot taller and looked to be of Asian descent. Johnson, not even giving Buffy time to speak, yelled out. "Begin."

"Look I don't want to hurt y–" Before Buffy could even finish; the punch caught her off guard. The X-5 struck Buffy in the face, causing her head to whip to the side. Buffy looked up with a busted lip and the X5 prepared to strike again, but this time Buffy caught her hand mid-strike and held it gripped in hers. "I said… I don't wanna hurt you."

The Asian girl struggled to free herself of Buffy's grip. She reached out to kick Buffy's legs out from under her and Buffy let go to back-flip and land on her feet. The X-5 began to advance on her again. This time however, Buffy was in full Slayer mode, dodging all her punches, throwing better ones and beating the X-5 to the ground. All the soldiers look stunned. She then turned to the sergeant with a smirk

"YOU...however I will enjoy hurting." She only made it to within a foot of striking distance. Then, before she knew what was happening, that all too familiar burning sensation in her shoulder was back. Buffy peered over her shoulder with a frustrated look on her face to see the dart embedded there. "Oh…shit…"

**

Renfro stood before a large group of men, all seated at a large, oblong table. She addressed the room going into detail about her thoughts on varying subjects. She then went on to finish about the progress of X5-452, a.k.a. Max. After briefly discussing her expectations, she then changed gears.

"That's the progress so far on X5-452. We should have more information within two weeks." Taking a slight breath, she changed to her newest subject. "Now if there are no other questions?" Renfro scanned the room, seeing no objections and proceeded. "On to our new little project, Miss Buffy Summers. What have we learned?"

A young man, with dark hair and dark eyes stood. His height was very impressive as he stood at his full 6'5. "Permission to speak. Ma'am."

After a brief nod from Renfro, the man continued with a slight southern drawl to his voice. "Ma'am, I have done a thorough check and made contacts with several individuals. The information is as follows:

"Rupert Giles is deceased. He died of an aneurysm sometime in early 2010. When I checked into the name Buffy Summers, apparently someone was tracking me, because the Watchers' Council of England has contacted me. I was questioned and it was later learned that the Council wishes to speak to you directly. They have a vested interest and wish for you to contact them immediately."

"Interesting, I am familiar with the Watchers' Council. I will set up a meeting by tomorrow with them. Anything else?"

The man took his seat and allowed a chance for questions. When there were none, she nodded to the sentry at the door to retrieve someone and Riley entered, saluting the gentlemen at the table, and then turning to Renfro.

"Progress report on our new project."

"Ma'am, she has tried to escape numerous times. One of our guards is still in the hospital. She seems reluctant to fight unless given no choice. I really don't feel that she is –"

Renfro shot Riley a look to let him know she was growing weary with his protective stance of this girl. She immediately cut him off, "I don't pay you to think. I pay you to follow orders. Are we clear, Agent Finn?"

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am..."

She dismissed him with a look of disappointment and the sentry returned with two doctors. "Good, what have Dr. Meirs and Levinson come up with?" She smiled with a feeling of accomplishment.

No one was aware that Riley and Jonathan had exchanged a look of understanding. Warren took the lead in the discussion. He was in his element as he went over all of the important factors they had found with Buffy, stressing the fact, that while her overall baseline was human, they had several contradicting factors that were quite confusing. When he had finished, Renfro gave a smile of her approval. They left and she turned to the young man from earlier.

"Sytrel, I want you to contact the Watchers Council and have them on video conference in my office. I will join you in about thirty minutes after wrapping this up." She then proceeded to again address the room, this time with added confidence.

**

Chapter 2-Who are you?

In the din of Renfro's office, a small group of doctors stood flanking her on each side. The overhead screen held the image of none other than Quentin Travers. The upper British accent rang within the confines of the room.

Renfro stood before the screen, her hands clasped behind her back. "I have been looking over the reports and information that your associates sent over on the girl in question. Who exactly is she?"

"She's a Slayer, was one of our finest… but very hard to control. She does not take orders well and as you have probably seen, she fights authority." Quentin splayed his hand referring to Buffy as if she were a fly to be squashed.

"Mr. Travers… Our specialty is behavior modification." Renfro rang out arrogantly.

"Well, if you feel Miss Summers can be an asset to your cause, by all means. I will allow you keep our Slayer for agreed upon time, providing you can modify her behavior. I do however want to be kept in the loop as to your intentions. She is still legally Council property." Quentin nodded his head in approval.

"Not a problem, sir. We want to breed her." Renfro spoke up; now that she realized that, she and Quentin were on the same page.

"Excellent idea, Keep me informed and you shall have our full cooperation." Quentin Travers spoke to the room in the superior tone he held for those he felt were beneath him. In all honesty, he always felt like Buffy was not worth the hassle. So, he was actually relieved to be rid of her. When the conference call ended, Renfro turned to the audience in attention.

"Well, you heard boys. Miss Buffy Summers is now on loan as Manticore property." She smiled, her enthusiasm hardly contained.

"Do we know who we want to pair her with?" One of the attendants asked.

"X5-494, is the most likely candidate, his skills in combination with hers will produce the most efficient combination," Warren added.

"When do we inform him of his new copulation schedule?" Another rang out equally excited.

"He was less than appreciative of his last assignment... But X5-494 is a soldier; he knows how to follow orders." Renfro interjected with confidence and certainty. "Meirs you gave her a full work up. Will her womb be able to handle a baby?"

"Absolutely, her body would be perfect for multiple fertilizations if possible. The genetic workup of these two combined... in all honesty, we will have Washington salivating to up our funds." Warren was happy to finally relate positive news to the group.

"I love your drive and ambition, Meirs that will take you far here at Manticore." Renfro crossed her arms and exited the room, thinking about the possibility of a promotion and pay rise

Wesley had been silent through the whole conference call, but now that he was alone with his superior, he was flabbergasted. Wesley crossed his arms with a stone-like visage, looking at Quentin with disapproval at Wesley's stance and obvious visage of alarm. Travers, of course, knew immediately what it was about.

"Sir, while I agree Miss Summers may have been difficult in the past, she is still a Slayer and thus should remain under the Council's care." Wesley's deep British accent came through, especially when he was upset.

"Mr. Wyndham-Pryce, she is ARROGANT! She refuses to respect authority. Her Watcher, Rupert Giles, bore the same arrogance as did her followers. Ms. Lehane's audacity caused her to go up against a Hell God and die. Is this what you think is best for one of our Slayers?" Quentin stood and slammed his hands on his desk for emphasis.

He had no desire to relive the mistakes that they made regarding Faith, instead of sacrificing the one she was supposed to, she chose instead to sacrifice herself. Quentin was more upset that he felt like his control of the situation had left him without direct authority in the matter.

"Of course not, sir... I-it's just that…" Wesley stammered.

"Don't worry, Wesley. I'm not leaving her there indefinitely."

A confused expression appeared on Wesley's face. Travers, understanding, began to relieve some of his anxiety. "Once procreation has proven successful and her ability to produce a viable hybrid of Slayer/soldier confirmed, we will send a team to collect her."

"Quentin, we can't possibly leave her with those – those people. They haven't the faintest notion about a Slayer's capabilities… and I am not at all sure that this is the wisest group to making deals with."

"Wesley… DO NOT remind me of your association with Mr. Giles, however brief. I do not tolerate insolence, even from someone as dedicated as you've proven to be." Travers glared.

"Sir, she is just a young girl." Wesley pleaded once last time.

Quentin turned his back on Wesley and left the office, letting him know that as far as he was concerned, the matter was closed and no further talking was needed.

**

Warren opened up a collection of spreadsheets he had prepared earlier on his computer; he had run a series of simulations prior to the information of her origin. He had run several simulations on the Slayer in order to determine what course of action would be most beneficial for Manticore.

Renfro had mentioned in passing about her interest in the crossbreeding of the young girl who had been identified as the Slayer. Seventeen hours of carefully carried out formulaic equations deduced that her blood contained high levels of a healing agent that caused her blood to replicate at a ratio of 8.43576854% (with a margin of error of 1.957%). After running the formula one last time for good luck, Warren was steadily eyeing the blonde and musing on how best to utilize this test subject.

A couple of days later, Buffy was back in the lab. Jonathan and several other doctors had Buffy hooked up to several machines yet again. While under sedation, she started struggling and screamed out Angel's name. As she swam slowly back to consciousness, she discovered her limbs were restrained.

"Sir, she's waking up," one of the lab attendants nervously motioned to Warren.

Warren looked up and began to monitor her vitals, amazed at the strength and overall resilience of this newest project.

"Man… I wish I had this girl's constitution," Warren stated with deep admiration. "Sedate her again. We don't want another repeat like last week. Renfro still refuses to come in here unless she is thoroughly sedated."

Buffy felt another stinging in her arm. The fog lifted slightly until darkness covered her mind once more.

Renfro entered the lab with several other doctors and soldiers in tow, her confident swagger almost too much for Warren to digest, but she was merely a means to an end. He could tolerate the uppity bitch as long as he benefited from this whole project.

She glanced back from the Slayer to Warren, "So what do we have?"

Justin, the prodigal genius and an overexcited teenager only on the project because of his father's position and advanced genius, spoke, "We've been running tests non-stop and to be honest, the only anomaly we can find is her blood. She heals real fast. But also her strength is off the charts, she kicked an X-5's ass and that was one of our better models," Justin grinned with wide eyes.

"You're so easily impressed... anything else?" Renfro retorted

"Such as, ma'am?" Jonathan interrupted, coming from across the room to monitor the situation.

"Is she fertile? Will she be able to reproduce? I want her on a breeding schedule immediately. What is the hold up, Dr. Levinson?" Renfro crossed her arms and raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow.

Jonathan had to think quickly on how to diffuse this line of questioning without causing unneeded attention. He had been sabotaging Warren's work for almost two weeks and, quite frankly, he was running out of ideas. "Well, I don't think I – uh, what I mean to say is –"

"Is there a problem? Doctor?" Her sarcasm evident, her resolve to kill the little rodent barely restrained.

Warren intervened, walking behind Jonathan to place a hand on his shoulder. He looked confidently to Renfro. "No, problem… We will have the cocktail prepared by the end of this week."

"Good. I would hate to think you were getting a conscience after all these years." Renfro snorted. She felt like her precious time was being wasted with these overbearing geneticists.

"Ma'am, she also keeps screaming for someone named Angel… and I'm not sure if that means anything." One of the many attendants stepped forward to try to have a moment of the spotlight.

"Make a note of it. We might be able to use it at some point." Renfro left the lab with a confident swagger. Just a couple more days and she would have herself an unstoppable soldier. Little Buffy was going to give her the next generation product of excellence.

**

After Renfro's departure, Jonathan felt sick taking part in the 'Slayer Procreation' Project. He shook his head in disbelief at how his friend, who tended to be a bit of a lunatic when it came to genetics anyway, had no qualms about causing someone, a human girl, to go into a simulated heat cycle and mate her with one of the creatures they themselves had created in this mini-sized version of 'the Island of Dr. Moreau'. Jonathan shook his head at Warren's whole blasé attitude.

He approached Warren in hopes of stopping this madness. He whispered with a straining voice. "Warren. I don't feel good about this."

"Sparky … We have been creating life in this lab for years. What's got you going all noble-knight now?" Warren threw his hands up in exasperation. Warren knew that Jonathan had a tendency to show what he considered weakness. He held his contempt in check, however, allowing his friend's Gentle Ben complex to vent so hopefully they could move on and bring their little project to fruition.

"I know her... She won't be aware of what's happening to her." His face showing complete remorse in the part he was playing in this debacle.

"She will ovulate, mate with the X5, and we will be able to create a new breed just with her alone. We will be on the cutting edge of technology. There is no bad here." Warren's agitated voice cut through Jonathan's silent musings. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"But, Warren –" was as far as Jonathan got before Warren glared at him with his 'had enough' visage, the clipboard gripped tightly in his hands.

"When you complained of us kidnapping women to use as incubators did I not stop them, when your bleeding heart complex decided something had to be done?" Warren spat angrily.

"Yes, but I know this girl… went to school with her. It's not fair to make her do this." Jonathan pleaded with his childhood friend.

He walked over to Jonathan wrapping his arm tightly in a friendly gesture. "I have always taken care of us, have I not?" Off Jonathan's silent nod, Warren continued. "This girl could mean promotion. So, she has to copulate with a genetic freak? As far as freaks go, he's not bad looking, Hell; I'd sleep with him if I were a girl. So why don't you relax and let Warren take care of this okay, Frodo?"

Warren had walked Jonathan to the door, sending him off to lunch. The pain in the ass munchkin was definitely going to be a problem. He just needed to watch him more; he suspected Jonathan was going to tamper with the components. He had already caught him once, acting suspiciously and had been watching him ever since. He, however, had a special cocktail brewed for Miss Slayer and had kept it out of the reach of all so far. The little bitch was going to make him a star and she didn't even know it.

**

The subtle murmur of small talk filtered into the large cafeteria. One of the perks of practically living at the Manticore base was some of its amenities.

Riley and Jonathan talked in hushed tones. Lots of employees were seated in the surrounding area so Jonathan leaned closer to keep their conversation unheard. "Were you able to contact Wesley?"

"Yeah. He said she is theirs but Travers refuses to rescue her. So, Wesley told me to contact him later in the week, so he could make arrangements."

"Riley, we're running out of time. Warren already has the cocktail ready. Renfro has been using the tank on her all week for behavior modification. They are going to breed her. She's just…" Jonathan sighed heavily, not even sure what to do next. "If… if we don't do something soon… she'll be taking more than herself out of here." He stood halfway in outrage before resuming his seat and looking to see if anyone had noticed.

"Don't they have to select the breeding partner? Doesn't that usually take time?" Riley shook his head, thinking that maybe they still had a small window of opportunity.

"Warren suggested X5-494. Renfro ate that suggestion up like a saucer of milk." Jonathan replied with irritation and as though he was quite frankly at the end of his rope.

"The assassin ?" Riley questioned with barely held outrage. The assassin better known as X5-494 was the last one that the young girl needed to be involved with. His twin, 493 suffered from a psychotic break and turned into a serial killer on the outside. Regardless of his clean bill of health from the Psy-Ops, Riley didn't like 494 and did not trust him.

His botched assassination attempt was one of the reasons he was pulled from solo-missions. He was incapable of following orders when it came to influence from outside those orders. Would his instability cause him to harm the Slayer? The Slayers in general were equipped to handle many things that normal people couldn't, but that was not to say that Buffy could, who because of his involvement with Faith did automatically earn Buffy sympathy points with him.

Riley had long learned the best way to survive at Manticore was to not look at the genetic soldiers as people but a tool to help the world at large.

Jonathan nodded in silence, his eyes telling him what Riley had suspected might end up being the outcome of all of this. "You're right. We don't have enough time… Shit! I was hoping that she not be subjected to... We have to do something."

"I'm open to suggestions… if you have any ideas?" Jonathan leaned back; his palms open to let Riley know at this point he was pretty much open to concealing her in the laundry truck to get her out?

Riley shook his head and placed it in his hands, frustrated because his hands were tied. No one was going to care if they impregnated a girl who supposedly disappeared over twenty-four years ago. Jonathan spoke up eyes darting around to make sure no one was listening to their conversation.

"They're planning on starting the injections tonight. Warren has been watching me like a hawk. I can't even try to dilute the cocktail."

"Then the only thing we can hope for is she doesn't get pregnant and, Jesus… It makes me sick to even be a part of this." Riley fumed

"I know, but what can we do? Warren is insane but he's a genius. If he has created a cocktail, there is no way it won't work."

"But she has been fighting so hard, why would she give in now?" Riley's brow furrowed in wonder.

"Because she will be amped up on fertility and hormone enhancers, her body will be ripe for intense mating… She will start to go into heat and not be able to control her desires," Jonathan sighed.

"Look, try to stall if you can… If you can't then maybe we can figure something out… but for now let's keep this between just us."

"Fine, I gotta head back now, but try Wesley again. Stress to him how time is of the essence." Jonathan pleaded one last time, in hopes that something would come through for Buffy.

"I can't. He is on radio silence for the next five days. He's trying to get together a rescue team without Travers' knowledge. We both know how hard it is to keep anything from that man."

Jonathan got up and took his tray to the conveyor, worry evident on both his and Riley's faces. They had no choice but to play along… but they did not have to like it.

**

Chapter 3 –Dream Assignment

Santos approached the cell currently holding the two X-5s. Now they wanted the assassin to copulate with some girl they claimed was a warrior. As far assignments went, Santos wished he had one like that, not with an X-5, because those things weren't even human, but the little hellcat they claimed was a warrior. He could definitely see himself spending a couple of hours with her. He approached the cell, knocking lightly and telling Alec, he needed to talk to him.

Santos relayed all the information to the X-5 in front of him. Alec nodded his head in agreement. He looked back to Max with a smile on his face.

Max, arms still crossed, returned the look with a sour expression on her face. Alec prepared to leave, with a nod in Max's direction. She had listened to the conversation, pretending indifference; A new breeding partner? Why pull Alec from her - unless they knew they were not really copulating?

"Where are you going?" Max asked, curious as to why they would pull Alec out without any warning. It was not in Manticore's nature to interrupt an unsuccessful project - unless there was a good reason.

"Apparently I have a new breeding partner… and not that this hasn't been great, but I think we've got to that time in our relationship where I move on." He winked at Max and followed the guard as he took him to his debriefing.

**

Buffy was trying to gauge the weaknesses in the room and find a sure fire way to escape. She was deep in meditation, letting her Slayer come to the forefront. She opened her eyes to see a young man around her age enter the cell.

Alec entered Buffy's cell, surprised at how pretty she was. He walked in further and began to take off his shirt. Buffy just stared him down with her arms crossed, coming to stand a couple of feet away trying to figure out what he was playing at. She recognized him from the training yard; he was always the compliant soldier.

"I got to tell you I like this assignment already." Alec smiled with lust apparent in his eyes as they traveled the length of Buffy from head to toe.

"What are you talking about?" Buffy's brow furrowed, not catching on to what the new guy was talking about. She was confused. Why all of a sudden would they put a guy in here with her, knowing she would use anybody to get out of here? This guy was either a prisoner like her or drew the short straw.

"I was chosen to be your partner." Alec gaze lingered a little too long on Buffy's breasts for her liking and she backed up a few spaces.

"What did they run out of prison cells, so now we have to go co-ed?"

"No, we're breeding partners. Didn't they tell you?" Alec's hand went to his pants, but stopped when Buffy gave him a strange look.

"Breeding? What? HUH?" There was no way she could have heard this guy right, she was not some animal to be bred! What kind of nut farm did she land herself in? She worried her bottom lip, trying to figure out if this was some type of joke.

"I have been assigned to be your breeding partner. We are to copulate every night until you become pregnant." Alec shrugged his shoulders at her.

"No thanks. But thanks for playing." Buffy replied sarcastically, eyeing the man who thought he was going to get in her pants with a smile and a nod.

"Look, it doesn't have to be all bad... You're a beautiful woman…" Alec could definitely appreciate this one's form. Max was a necessity to earn her trust but this one definitely had potential. He's hand returned to his pants but stopped as he watched Buffy with a lustful smirk.

In his assignment to Max, it had been vital to earn her trust. Given Manticore's hopes that she would lead them to Eyes only, it hadn't been necessary to actually sleep with her. 'Breeding Partner' had only been a title, a way to get him into the cell to earn that trust, to help her 'escape' when they had what they needed, without her suspecting. Idly he wondered what would happen to Max now. His focus returned to the woman before him. Trust wasn't the aim here – and this one had potential.' This assignment was all about procreation with the bonus of pleasure.

"If you value your life, I would not even finish that sentence." Buffy stared the X-5 down and he quickly removed his hands from his zipper.

Alec could tell something was different about this girl. For one thing, with the exception of Max, no one was this sarcastic. So he tried a question any soldier would know the answer to without even thinking.

"What's your designation?"

"To get the HELL… out of here." Buffy replied so quickly even Alec was surprised.

Thinking on a hunch, he asked, "Your name?"

His quick ability to recall facts had him remember that 452 or Max as she demanded to be called. The normals on the outside had names and not designations. If she was from outside, she had a name – Max said no one had designations out there – or something similar. She had to be the girl that the compound was brimming with rumors of, extreme strength. No one had been able to subdue her for long period of time.

"Buffy," she said, softer this time. "They told me I was going to get to see Giles. I need to get to Sunnydale." She felt no impending threat so let her defenses down slightly.

"Sunnydale?" He remembered from history how the town of Sunnydale, California had a massive earthquake and the whole town was destroyed. Suspicion started to build that maybe this girl- had no clue what year it was? "Buffy… do you know what year it is?"

"They told me it was 2020. I just need to get to Sunnydale. Giles is there. He can help." Hoping that the man in front of her might give her a smidgen of sympathy, enough to get her out of this alternate version of Hell.

"Buffy. Sunnydale was destroyed over seventeen years ago… massive earthquake… the whole town is just a sinkhole now." Alec told her cautiously.

"Why would they tell me I could go there then, if it's not there? Why did they promise me I could see Giles?" Buffy turned her head to the side, trying to figure out if this guy was telling her the truth. Her slight smile faded and confusion crept over her pretty face.

Alec explained without hesitation, "I don't know anything about a Giles, but there is no Sunnydale."

Buffy finally realized they had been lying to her to get her cooperation. Her eyes and mouth were suddenly firm as she came to the obvious conclusion.

"I should've known – they were being –" She broke off the sentence and snapped around to stare him down. "So they sent you here to have sex with me and you thought I was just –" Buffy snorted, "Gonna let that happen."

"Look, don't bust my chops. I'm just following orders." Alec felt offended, he might be willing to have sex with her, but she didn't have to blame him for the situation.

"Fine… You go tell your commander – or whomever you answer to – I'm saying No! No to being here….NO to sex! So you can just take your pretty boy self out of my cell, cause this is happening NO WAY! NO HOW!" She poked Alec in the chest, letting him know she was not playing Manticore's games.

Buffy screamed out for the guards "Come get your pretty boy 'cause I am DONE playing with you people."

Alec left with a puzzled look on his face. What was with these women lately? All he wanted was to follow orders and do what had to be done. They kept sending him to women who just didn't want to give it up; this was worse than being locked in a room with nuns.

Buffy was finally alone and she realized that if she wanted out of this lunatic's paradise, she was going to have to rely on herself. There was no one coming and she had enough of this place's hospitality. After the pretty boy left, she began to go over every inch of the cell continuing her search for any possible weakness. She did not survive Hell to be someone's breeding whore.

**

Riley had been given the task of pleading with the young woman once more. If she refused, the next protocol would be mind control and drugging. Riley closed his eyes with a slight sigh. Why wouldn't they just let the girl go? She obviously didn't know anything. Riley entered her cell and stayed across the room, he nodded to the guards to leave. He understood the girl's reluctance, but he was also a soldier and knew that her previous incidents were not winning her any favors with Renfro.

"Buffy… that's your name right?"

Buffy stayed silent, as Riley limped to the only other furniture in the cell; a folding chair.

"How's the knee?" Buffy asked with a smirk.

"You know you didn't do yourself any favors by injuring me."

"REALLY? Felt good at the time." She snorted with a small laugh.

"Did you enjoy your stay in solitary?"

"Peachy with a side of keen." Buffy retorted.

"Why are you making this so hard on yourself?" Riley stood abruptly and turned to stare at the Slayer.

"Gee, maybe… it's because I want to be let go."

"You know I can't do that." Riley took a deep breath and sighed deeply.

"Then thanks for stopping by." Buffy turned away from him, hands on hips. Letting him know she was done with the conversation.

Riley shook his head in frustration, the girl had spunk, but that was not going to help her here at Manticore. So far, it had just earned her two stints in solitary and a beating that he refused to authorize.

"Being here is not without rewards. You get three square meals a day, clothed, top of the line medical care." Realizing she was not responding to this he tried another tactic. "Do you have any idea of the filth, degradation, and vileness that is on the outside? What could you possible want that is out there, that you can't get here?" Debating with this young girl, for some reason he couldn't fathom, reminded him of Faith.

Buffy turned to look Riley in the eyes without blinking.

"Freedom… Can you give me my freedom?'

Riley's face fell. He knew that she would resist. He just felt bad about the way Manticore planned on rectifying that.

"I've told you what I want. If you can't help, then I'm through talking." Buffy's face showed nothing but pure ice.

"They are sending back your breeding partner. You want freedom? Cooperate." Riley turned to leave and signal the guards. He left Buffy to contemplate her options.

Buffy decided that once everyone went to bed, that little hole she had been working to get out of here might finally be wide enough for her to slip through and out of this. She was no one's fucking whore, gestational incubator or anything else they planned on trying to make her. Screw that scenario. Freedom was her top priority.

**

The lab's shiny surface gleamed with the sterility that was stark like most of the personalities of Manticore. Renfro was still working on her priority of finding the X-5 with the perfect DNA, but this breeding experiment with the Slayer was the perfect opportunity to advance her position.

She had previously the other day already done two spinal taps to determine why the X-5 had not shown any symptoms of Progeria. She was relatively certain that Max was the perfect X-5 they had been looking for but until she had at least a 99% probability then she would have to wait for confirmation.

Dr. Meirs had sent word to Renfro, he had made a groundbreaking discovery in his designer cocktail, and he wanted to alert Renfro as soon as possible.

Back at the lab, Renfro and Meirs' heads were practically glued to each other while they consulted. She was irritated with the constant delays and interruptions to her grand scheme. There had already been at least two setbacks and neither were explainable.

"So what do you have for me, Dr. Meirs that could not wait?"

"I have come up with a combination, for our Slayer to start ovulating and cause 494 to be overcome with the need to mate with her by amping up her normal pheromones to an extremely high level."

"Explain?" Renfro's curiosity was definitely peaked by this information.

Warren held a small blue vial in his hand, like it was the answer to world hunger. "This drug will cause her, well for lack of a better phrase, to go into heat. She will be in pain if she refuses to respond."

"And X5-494?"

"The pheromones she will be putting off will cause his feline DNA markers to respond - he won't be able to stop himself."

"Excellent … I knew I could count on you, Dr. Meirs… When can we start?"

"Right away, There is no reason why we couldn't start tonight. And due to her apprehension about things, the first doses will be laced in her food and drinking water. If need be, we can arrange for her shower to be infiltrated with the solution."

Jonathan had been spying on the duo as soon as he spotted Renfro heading toward Warren, listening behind the small wall of test tubes and feigned interest in the mild comings and goings of the lab. He of course was listening to the exchange between Renfro and Meirs. He wished he could do more, Buffy did not deserve this, and unfortunately, what he heard did not please him at all.

Jonathan shook his head in silent defeat. It looked like the time to try to help Buffy was officially up. Renfro smiled deeply, and raised an eyebrow in Jonathan's direction. He seemed very quiet of all of sudden. No matter, her project was well on its way; now only one other matter that needed her attention. She walked over to the room connected to the lab, the infirmary, and medical evaluation station.

Renfro entered the station, followed by Dr. Meirs, and approached the man seated on the medical cot. He started to stand to salute her, when she waved it off with 'at ease soldier'. She studied the chart Warren had handed her, and examined the notes with an eagle eye. Warren stood to the side to allow Renfro silent perusal of the notes and soldier.

His physical stated he was in peak shape, and his sperm count was off the charts. He had been removed from the birth control over a month ago initially for the guise of copulation with 452. His fertility status was very high. Dr. Meirs had assured her that 494 regardless of his moral compass, which had proved problematic in the past, would be incapable of resisting the allure of the Slayer with her added pheromone enhancer and injections to increase her ability to conceive. She glanced back up to the soldier to gauge his reaction. He looked straight ahead and waited for her command.

"You are to report to me personally in the morning at 0600 hours. You will begin debriefing of the scope of your new current mission."

Renfro dismissed X5-494 with a salute and he left to return to his barracks.

His debriefing would begin and he would be made aware of his obligation to impregnate the Slayer. But first, she wanted to make sure her new project was going to succeed.

"I want the Slayer to be put in the same unit, watch him to see if the drugs are affecting him." Renfro'e eyes gleamed as she realized her plan was coming to fruition.

"If you put them in the same vicinity, he is going to go into a fucking frenzy." Warren Stated.

"Good," Renfro replied abrupt. Then Renfro left Warren to follow through with his part of the plan.

**

Sergeant Johnson laid on the cot, his leg broken and the blood still fresh on his facial wounds. He yelled expletives at whoever tried to enter to calm him. When his commander entered the room, he became quiet.

"What happened to you?"

Another soldier that had been silent until that moment stepped forward to salute Riley.

"The girl beat him with his own gun, Sir." He cast down his eyes at relaying the information to his superior.

Johnson winced as more pain shot up his leg. "The crazy-ass bitch is not human."

"That's enough, sergeant." Riley stated and turned to another soldier and gave the silent command to fetch a doctor.

"Enough, I have faced some crazy-ass lunatics, but that girl is off her rocker, and so are you if you think I will train her." Johnson screamed his pain caused him to not care what happened to him at that point.

Riley turned to the soldier still standing and had spoken previously. "Private, relay what happened?"

"Sir, the sergeant was going to make an example of her He asked her to come forward, she bantered with him, telling him, 'You picked the wrong girl to play with.' The sergeant then replied, 'I am going to smack the taste out of your mouth.'"

The soldier began to relay the story in full:

Flashback

Buffy threw the man across the floor; his body skidded to a stop once he hit the farthest wall. The second man rushed her in anger, and found him-self being thrown through the air, landing on his back. The third man approached, she smiled and waved him on with her hand.

"Come on, show me what you got."

Cracking her neck, when the soldier finally reached Buffy, she seized him up by his throat, looked right into his eyes, and threw the man to the side like a rag doll. Pulling himself back to his feet, Johnson grabbed Buffy and hit her in the face twice before she flipped and waved him to her, thrilled for the opportunity to release some of her pent-up aggression. There was an angry welt split across her lip, but other than her lip, she didn't seem fazed by the soldier's punches.

Sergeant Johnson smiled and wiped his mouth. "Come to Daddy, bitch."

Buffy gave a perfect spin-kick, knocking Johnson to the floor, with a smirk. She proceeded to take his sidearm and rip in two, but not before beating the arrogant prick into submission, "Who's your Daddy now, bitch?"

End Flashback

The soldier continued, "When the Slayer unit was finally subdued, she spat on Johnson and told him 'Think you can break me by locking me in a dark hole, think again jackass.' Then the Slayer unit was taken to solitary, where she now remains… Sir"

"Is that all?" Riley stared at both men, completely disappointed in Johnson's behavior.

After the soldiers all agreed, Riley dismissed them turned to Johnson. "First off why would you intentionally bait a girl who you were told to not to touch?"

By this point, the doctor had given Johnson a mild sedative where he started to calm down.

"But… Sir… Her attitude is affecting the whole unit. On maneuvers, she deliberately refused to crawl in the mud Told me 'I could kiss her ass.' She refused to follow any of my orders. The other units are talking and we do not want her to influence them. She is arrogant and, unfortunately for us, she has the damn strength to back it up. Right after kicking my ass, she took off running to the fence. Do you know how many times, they shot her just to get her to stop? Five times, her body is building a resistance to the drug. I will not have her back in my unit; you place her in one of the others. I'm done. Renfro wants her trained so badly, she can train her herself."

**

It was a typical brisk morning; all units were doing their daily training exercises. Sergeant Brimfield stood before his elite squad, the X5-R. They were the best of the X-5s and were separated, due to their extensive training. He wanted to give them a short briefing, although he knew they would comply. It was not in their nature to not follow orders. The Slayer had gone through three units already and it was imperative that she be observed.

The girl injured the last commander, Sergeant Johnson, in an escape. If Brimfield had not seen the escape footage, he would not have believed it. The girl took the trained soldiers and beat the hell out of them with their own weapons. She had accomplished all this in under three minutes. His unit was told to subdue only, she was part of a bigger project and was not to be harmed.

The unit stood at apt attention as two armed guards brought out a girl in chains, the commander looked to Vic and Forest. "Is this necessary?"

"Trust me, you don't want this girl's hands, and feet free anymore than necessary." Came the reply as Vic bent to unlock the chains holding her legs together, while Forest kept the gun trained on her at all times.

Buffy lowered her eyes to the man at her feet and smirked. Vic looked up into her eyes and remembered his last skirmish with this girl; she almost ripped his arm off. He removed the chains and backed away.

Buffy held her arms with the chains still dangling to see if he would remove those as well without the slight smile not leaving her face once.

When she was free, she just raised her eyebrow. She was just biding her time. She slowly backed to the space they directed her too.

"She seems compliant now." The sergeant rang out.

"Trust me; she can fake it with the best." Both soldiers backed away slowly ready to depart. They had both had their fill of the Slayer and were glad to be rid of her.

When the sergeant looked away, Buffy winked at Forest with a smile.

Buffy licked her lips to fight the dryness; her eyes scanned the area looking to see how far away she was from the fence-line. She didn't even notice the soldier who slipped behind her to whisper in ear.

"So how was solitary?"

Buffy replied under her breath, "A nice vacation."

Alec stood behind the girl that he now knew as Buffy, the Slayer. Her scent drew him in like a siren's song. His breath hot on her neck, he leaned in closer to whisper against her silken skin. "Did you miss me?"

Buffy gritted her teeth, "No." She hissed through her closed teeth.

"You seem to have a lot of aggression, I could think of a few ways to release all that pent up energy." His lips grazed the back of her neck.

"Screw you." Buffy gritted out, with venom.

"I was talking about exercise, but your way sounds more fun." Alec squeezed her butt with both hands. Buffy jumped slightly and before she could glance behind her, he had moved back to his position a few feet behind her. If she were not trying to fake these people out, she would have knocked the hell of the arrogant ass just for touching her.

The drill instructor asked her if there was a problem, she just smiled and told him no. She would play the dutiful soldier until the time to flee. Her main goal was find alternative ways to escape.

**

As the day progressed, she started to feel more relaxed. They had stretched and then had sparring practice. She perked up at the chance to release her pent up energy.

One of the drawbacks to solitary was she didn't have enough room to practice. She did take ample opportunity to meditate though. It helped to keep her focused. She had behaved merely under the guise of compliancy. If she behaved long enough, they would watch her less and let down their guard.

The drill instructor that they called Brimfield, reminded her slightly of Giles with his kind blue eyes. He seemed older and more seasoned than the previous ones she had been exposed to. His behavior was also less asinine, which earned beaucoup points in her book.

Half the day was gone and not once did he attempt to make an example of her. She still had no intentions of doing the whole 'Yes Sir, No Sir' crap but she could behave, for now.

Alec watched her like a predator. She had easily and confidently taken the female X-5s down with ease. Her grace and skill were breathtaking. It was obvious she was in her element. She had even offered a hand up to most of her opponents at the end of each spar session. Her fluid movements caused him to stalk his prey more vigilantly. This lead to the one thought that played repeatedly in his head; 'He wanted her.'

Alec exhibited the same amount of skill in his demonstration. All to his surprise when he looked over to Buffy to see if, she was watching. She rolled her eyes and murmured under her breath, 'Copycat.' This brought a smile to his lips. She had been observing him, the whole display had been for her benefit whether she realized it or not. This gave Alec renewed spark as he took down each X-5 with similar precision.

After he brought the last opponent down, he was irritated to see another X-5 speaking to her with general interest. The lust was obvious in his X-5 peer as he smiled and made small talk with his prospective mate. This pissed him to no end. The smile dropped from his face immediately.

When the opportunity arrived, he would let her know that she was going to be his.

Brimfield called Buffy to the front to come face to face with Alec. Now was her chance to pay him back for grabbing her ass. She waited for him to give the command to begin. She sucker-punched him before he even had a chance to knock her down.

He looked to her face and saw a small trace of humor. "What was that for?" Alec said, sizing her up.

"That was for grabbing my ass." Buffy replied.

She went for another attack on his face, but he averted it, bringing his own fists up to block while he bounced around the mat. He was toying with her. She realized immediately.

She surprised him with a crescent kick; it landed against his right hip. She twisted out to land another spin kick but, he halted her would be attack. He grabbed her foot and flipped her on her back. She landed with a hard thump on the mat. Before he could pin her however she flipped back to her feet.

Buffy cracked her neck and quickly aimed for his head with a full spin out to a roundhouse kick. Using his speed, he was able to sidestep her move.

The fight continued on, intensely as both seemed evenly matched. While Alec was faster and had more brute force, Buffy made up for it in agility and strength. Her hair hung loose, her shirt was stained with sweat.

"Don't tell me you're tired already?" Alec quipped while sweeping his leg out. Buffy back-flipped and twisted parallel to the ground and nailed him on the side of the head. Alec stumbled slightly and quickly gained the upper hand. He gripped her neck, lifted her, and threw her down to the mat. His muscles rippled and his nostrils flared; his primal need to mate and claim her was only held back by a thread.

"So you like it rough, Buffy? Okay, let's play rough!" Alec pinned her with one hand holding her arms clasped above her head. He bent his head and pressed his nose against her heated skin to inhale the exotic scent that emanated. His arousal swelled in direct response to her pheromones. He held her close so he could wallow in her scent; immerse himself in it, the scent that had been driving him steadily closer and closer to madness. . Slowly, he ran his tongue along the curve of her neck, putting his scent on her, marking his territory.

Her chest heaved under his weighted stare. She could feel his breath on her neck – and then the hot wetness of his tongue – and it made her tingle in all the wrong places. That is when she felt it; something large and hard was pressed against her thigh. Her eyes widened in shock. She tried to buck him off her, and wriggled her body to remove him.

He hissed in response. He knew if they were not on display, he would be buried inside her. His primal instincts demanded it. He could feel the warmth and softness of her and the instant he did, he almost lost his hold on his last tenuous thread of reason.

He growled in her ear, "How many have tasted you?"

Buffy was mortified, she was barely able to sputter her reply, "What?"

**

Riley had received word that they were putting the Slayer in the X5-R unit. He normally wouldn't have minded. However, the fact that they were trying to mate her with the assassin made it insanity. If they had already started to 'treat' her with the serum and it sent him into – the male equivalent of heat - it could turn ugly fast. The X-5 would be overcome with the need to mate with her and might even kill someone if they interfered. He had to make sure that did not come to pass.

That is when he saw it, X5-494 had Buffy pinned on the mat. This would not have shocked him. But the fact, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. 494 also had his face pressed against her neck; a definite sign that he was displaying dominant behavior toward the slayer.

He walked briskly forward and shouted "Enough!"

It took several minutes for the assassin to remove himself from the Slayer. Both were locked in a heated gaze. Buffy's face wore a confused shocked look. 494 however, wore the expression of pure male pride. He stood at apt attention, and saluted Riley. But he had no delusions; if he attempted to touch, the Slayer; 494 would attack any male he saw as a threat.

Chapter 3B- Animal Attraction

Buffy stared in the mirror that evening, staring at her reflection, asking the questions her mind had been too hazed with arousal to ask earlier.

Like why had it been hazed with arousal? She hadn't thought herself attracted to 494, but the way her body had responded, the way she had heard that growl and felt thrilled all over, the way she had wanted him buried inside her, even in front of everyone else…

Was this the result of time? Her Adult hormones far more powerful than teenage hormones or the fact that – after her first time with Angel – she knew what she might be missing out or was it hell? Had hell had some effect on her body, heretofore unseen, unnoticed, only now coming out to respond to her Breeding Partner?

The words made her shiver in disgust. 'Breeding Partner', like she was some kind of sheep or dog, breeding to improve the flock, to provide them a new pet to study. She wouldn't do it. She knew that they could only be interested in using her child for experimentation or soldiering or whatever the X-5s did. They certainly looked and acted like soldiers but soldiers guarded them. But they were more- Powerful. Perhaps even infringing her abilities, it was hard to judge. She knew she was stronger after her sojourn in hell.

Stronger –, but more easily aroused? The roughness he'd treated her with appealed to something dark and feral within her, feeling his weight on her body, his arousal pressing into her abdomen, feeling him glory in her scent. That had, perhaps, been the strangest. The way he had scented her, his tongue running across her neck, plastering his own scent on her… could he have been marking her as 'off-limits' to everyone else? - As his and his alone?

She shuddered, trying not to feel a bizarre kind of pleasure at the thought of such an instinctual claim.

No, there would be no 'breeding'. She would remain strong. She had to.

**

The Following day… (This chapter was written by the Wonderful Mystic-Whispers as a gift to yours truly)

As soon as Buffy was released inside the indoor gym, she gave a small smile. Her inner Slayer had been dancing on her last nerve for a chance to be let out for a while. Buffy had decided to behave herself for the sake of the chance to spar with someone.

She glanced around the room, finding Alec and her place in front of him. She began to stretch out her muscles...paying particular attention to her leg and back muscles... the sinew there feeling particularly tense. She stretched her neck in a backward arch, working each muscle on the way down her spine until she was in a full backward bend, hands touching the floor behind her ankles, tightly toned midriff on full display. She pushed with her feet, sending her body into a backwards flip and landing deftly on her feet.

She stretched each leg out pulling each one high into a vertical split and pointing her toes completely oblivious to the reactions around her as she concentrated on her workout.

Every male eye in the place was on her as she demonstrated her incredible flexibility. She stretched out her arms to balance, then slowly began a horizontal sideways split...her legs parallel to her arms. Nothing short of an atomic bomb could have dragged the guys away from this display.

She swept her legs together to rest in front of her, arched her back, and flipped up, breasts bouncing, rolling her neck as she rose to standing still.

Alec's mouth went dry as he watched Buffy going through her routine that he could barely even swallow. His mouth dropped open as she dropped into her split... the woman was more flexible than a bendy straw! He could only imagine the positions he could get her into, if only she were willing.

Alec shifted uncomfortable in his too tight pants; he squirmed trying to relieve the pressure a little. 'How can she not know what she's doin' to me?' His treacherous thoughts would not stop though... his eyesight picked up on the slight sheen of sweat she had developed in the warm atmosphere. The scent of pure Buffy filled his nostrils and he momentarily closed his eyes. That was when he became aware of the silence in the room. He opened his eyes and scanned the area... immediately noticing that Buffy was now the center of everyone's attention. He growled softly under his breath, which was not ok at all.

Buffy slowly became aware of her surroundings again. She had been running through her usual stretching routine, so engrossed with it, she had forgotten where she was.

She heard a soft growl from behind her and spun around to face... Alec. 'Huh, he actually growled, Kinda hot... in a very Neanderthal way.' She shook her head, unable to believe the thoughts in it. 'No Buffy, no ogling the supposed breeding partner… Bad Buffy!'

Alec moved to stand in front of her, shielding her from the other's views. He spun around to face her, his eyes caught on her breasts for a moment, watching as they moved while she breathed.

"Hey pretty boy...up here." Buffy's hands were on her hips, one foot tapping in annoyance at his blatant appraisal.

"Anytime you wanna try any of those moves with me Baby, you just give me a yell, ok?" Alec smirked at her.

"FALL IN!" Saved by the bell thought Alec as Buffy opened her mouth to reply, one hand clenched into a fist in anger.

Chapter 4- Warning Bells

Buffy had felt his eyes on her for the last week. She tried to ignore the way her body felt, every time he was near. The last time they sparred, he had asked her 'how many had tasted her?' She was still positive; she had to have misheard him.

Then there was the incident of him coming to her cell. Buffy had a typical day of training. Her freshly washed hair was loose and grazed the sides of her breasts. She turned startled to see, a very relaxed Alec on her bed.

This of course would not have bothered her for the simple fact; she was wrapped in a towel. Nothing but a towel and her clothes were on the other side of the soldier. Buffy stopped in her tracks her eyes wide. Alec swiveled his head in her direction with an intense stare. Buffy was shocked back to reality.

"Who knew the secret to getting you out of your clothes was to just show up at the right time?"

Buffy did not know exactly how to respond so she turned her face away from his. "Could I have my clothes, please?"

Alec sat up evidently satisfied with her state of undress. He grabbed her folded clothes and held them just out of reach. "You mean these?" His face changed to a look of pure mischievousness, "What's my incentive?"

"I won't hurt you."

Alec stood and slowly swaggered to where Buffy stood, and grazed her arm with the tips of his fingers. "Come on Buffy, that little display you did with the stretching, you can't say that wasn't for my benefit." Alec lent down and captured Buffy's lips. She at first reciprocated with passion. Then as if a light switched on, she started struggling again and bit down on Alec's full lower lip, tasting blood as he jerked his head away. He stood up, wiping the blood off his lip with a small smirk. "You really are a little wildcat, aren't you, slayer? Well, if you won't let me to kiss those lips, I guess I'll have to kiss your other ones." His gaze dropped to her clit and he rose his eyes to hers, smirking even more as he cocked his eyebrow.

It only took a second for Buffy to realize, Alec's intentions. She blushed furiously, turning her head away. Buffy placed a palm against Alec's chest. "You try it and you know I'm gonna stop you."

"Why? You want me." Alec closed his eyes and inhaled her scent. "I can smell you. This can be pleasurable for both of us." Alec tilted her head and his lips glided across her soft mouth. Buffy allowed herself only a moment to enjoy the gentle caresses of his lips against her. She suddenly came awake at his hand slipping under the towel. She backed up out of his caress and stared at him with confusion. Her eyes held his, "Please, don't do this." Her whisper caught his attention like nothing else causing him to hand her clothes to her. She turned her back in an attempt to not see the lust from his eyes as she changed into her clothes.

Buffy was still reeling from what she had almost allowed to happen the previous night. Alec almost got to third base with her and she was not ready for that. The last man she slept with had turned evil and who knew what would happen this time. So she waited and when the opportunity came about, she seized it. Buffy took a running jump and flipped over the soldiers, running straight to the fence. Alec had witnessed the exchange and was amazed, maybe even impressed. The girl had all five soldiers on the ground in twenty-eight seconds. It was pure poetry in motion the way she took those guards out.

He watched as she gripped the fence with her hands, pulling herself up with ease. In a few short, stealthy strides, he was within reaching distance of her.

Before she got halfway up the fence, she felt strong arms around her pulling her back to the ground. She landed on a body, the wind temporarily knocked out of her. She flipped back to her feet ready to rip apart whoever had stopped her attempt at freedom. "I don't know why you just did that but you're about to be taught a hell of a lesson. Never stand between a slayer and freedom."

"Do you know what they will do to you when they catch you?" He murmured it breathily into her ear as he took in the aroma of her. She smelled incredible, hot, and sultry.

"You mean if, not planning on getting caught." Buffy wiggled, trying to free herself from his grip.

"You'll never make it." He rolled her over, pinning her lithe form to the ground.

"Say's you." Buffy used her upper body strength to twist them over and end up on top. 'Hmm she mused, when did- his eyes get so intense?'

"There are worst things than here," he said seriously. Something in his intense eyes told her he knew it for certain.

"SO is that your bargaining chip is that all cause I gotta tell you not convinced." 'Bluff him out Buff'.

"How many times have you tried and failed? You can't win this one."

Her face set into a mask of determination. Lowering her face to his, to glare at him she grimly uttered, "I only fail when I stop trying."

Buffy pulled up and popped Alec in the nose, causing him to roar in pain as his hands flew to his face. With him distracted, Buffy jumped up and ran along the fence line looking for another place to flee or maybe some weakness in it that she could use to squeeze through. Finally spotting a place where the fence was lower, she jogged along to it and prepared to flip herself over it. But before she even got a foothold on the fence, she felt herself flying through the air to collide with a nearby tree. Alec grabbed Buffy by the shoulders and slammed her into the tree, her back cut from the contact with the hard scratchy bark and her head thumped against it, causing stars to form in her vision. Her eyes held with his in a fiery will. "Let me go, or I swear." Buffy growled her temper flaring.

Alec pressed his body hard against hers to keep her in place, his voice spat in anger. "Listen to me, if you don't do what they say, they are going to drug you, and then the choice will no longer be yours. Is that what you want?"

Her eyes narrowed and her chest heaved from the exertion. She looked away from his face. Unable to look into his mesmerizing gaze, "Besides, would it really be so bad?" He ran his hand down the side of her face to her jaw and then behind her head. Buffy tried to look anywhere but to the face of the man, whose eyes were attempting to hold her captive.

She would not meet his gaze so; he wound her long blonde hair in his fist, forcing her to face him. He crushed his mouth to hers without warning. Buffy melted into the kiss. She could feel the tight coils in her nethers clench in arousal and desire, the violence of his kiss only turning her on more.

She heard a loud noise, and pushed Alec hard, sending him sprawling to the ground and flinging herself on top of him with an umpf. His fly pressed intimately against her center and she rotated her pelvis causing them both to groan. He rolled her to the ground and ground hard against her, the slight pain causing their passion to rise to breaking point. She looked into his lust filled orbs, panting heavily. He took immediate advantage of her temporary surrender and plundered her mouth with his. His tongue probed harshly and teeth clashed.

Her body was on fire, that was the first thought in her brain. Her womb ached for this man to be inside her. This wasn't right he's holding you against your will. She began to struggle against him, trying to fling him off as she fought against her body's own betrayal, but he was going nowhere.

"No, we can't do this -." Buffy's plea was cut off as he covered her mouth with his in another hot, devastating kiss. This one gentle and arousing as he slid his tongue against hers sensually; completely designed to break down her resistance, it worked. Stunned at being kissed like that by him, she forgot to resist. Buffy had never felt so completely violated by a kiss before, and to her shame, she didn't want it to stop.

As he broke from her lips to allow her to breathe, her senses came back in a rush. She pulled back her right arm and let her fist fly into his mouth. "Don't you ever kiss me like that again, you don't have the right!" She angrily wiped at her mouth as he recovered from the stinging blow.

Slowly Alec stood, glaring at her in anger and lust. She was breathing heavily, her breasts straining against the material of her top as she fought to get air into her lungs. He found himself wanting to see that look combined with a look of pure satisfaction. But not yet; with a slow smile, he fell into a fighting stance and gestured for her to attack.

She ran at him, leaping into the air to aim a kick at his face, but he was too fast and grabbed her ankle, twisting and sending her to the ground.

Buffy grimaced as she hit the ground, but wasted no time flipping up to her feet again. This time she delivered a devastating series of punches and kicks, blocking his equally furious attack, as he did hers. With a frustrated cry, she launched into a spinning roundhouse, only to find it effortlessly blocked again and herself pinned with her back against a strong chest. She kicked up with her right leg and connected with his face behind her.

Ok... enough was enough. He set his mouth in a grim line and reached for her again, grabbing her by the upper arms, spinning her to face him and hauling her into his arms.

He kissed her harshly and was surprised to find her kissing him back again. Her hands ran down the front of his shirt as he stripped her top half off her with a loud rip.

Buffy ran her hands lower to his buckle and in one movement, freed his burgeoning erection. He backed her towards the tree again, ripping her remaining clothes away as they went...her walking backwards out of her pants. She stopped him in his tracks, jumping up and scissoring her legs around his waist and impaling herself on his hard cock. She felt herself stretching around him, and the movement of his shaft inside her tight passage sent shocks of surprising pleasure bursting through her. Finally reaching his destination, he pushed her hard against the flat surface. With the leverage he needed, he pounded himself hard into her leaking slit, drawing grunts and gasps from her as she was winded with every thrust. Eventually his knees gave out under the pressure and he dropped them both to the ground.

Pulling out of her warmth, Alec rolled her over on all fours and pushed his hard member against her weeping clit. Buffy whimpered at the loss of friction, grinding herself back onto him, trying to spear herself on his shaft. "Easy, kitten… I'll give you what you want," he smirked.

Alec knew he could screw her leisurely like this for hours having the strength and endurance that came with being a transgenic, but his orders were to copulate a minimum of four times every day with maximum emissions at each joining, so he decided he'd stop toying with her - in another minute or two. He piston his hips to angle his shaft right against her ripe womb; She screamed out in pleasure as the sensation began to take her over. He ravaged her body, slamming his cock into her again and again. Buffy rode the waves of her orgasm and gripped the grass in ecstasy. She felt him explode in what felt like a never-ending stream. Her body accepted Alec's tingling seed as her womb greedily drank all of his fluid. They collapsed to the ground, spent, with him still atop her. Alec removed his member from her heated depths slowly. He felt like he had just spent a two-day stint on training maneuvers.

Her eyes shot open, Oh shit! She did not just rut like a horny rabbit, screaming Alec's name. She felt their joined orgasms, at what she counted as at least three times. Her channel still fluttered with the after effects. She did not do the nasty with the pain in the ass soldier. First things first, deny it happened. Dress quickly and quietly and don't acknowledge.

Buffy 'pulled herself to her feet, grabbing her torn shirt and pulling on her pants as fast as she could, all the while she avoided Alec's pointed stare. She crossed her arms and spoke quietly, "We should get back before we're missed."

He accomplished their first joining, as he was instructed to do, but why was he so pissed that she pulled away. He felt it; it hit him like a ton of bricks. She was a mission, but why was it that her not wanting to look at him causing him this deep seething anger.

When they returned, it was nearly dark outside. The sentry that waited for them snickered; he knew that 494; was supposed to mate with the slayer. It was very obvious that the 494 had completed their joining. The slayer was avoiding any and all contact whereas 494 wore the expression of contentment. Maybe if he knocked up the uptight bitch, she would stop being such a pain in the ass.

When she approached, Alec told the guards that she had a change of heart and returned willingly. They took hold of her arms firmly but not brutally and took her back to her cell. She didn't even give them one good quip. What the hell was that about? It was obvious something had happened between the two, her shirt was ripped, and Alec's was covered in dirt.

Buffy went directly to her shower, when she returned to her cell. She showered and scrubbed her skin, to remove any traces of the soldier. She was such a slut. She tried to escape, and ends up fucking, dammit she couldn't even say his name without getting angry.'Ok, Buffy, it's just been a long time and you were overcome with lust. It happens, Just one little mistake. Oh hell but, why did he have to do it so well.

She finished her shower and lay on her bunk. She tried to block out everything that happened but the one face that kept returning to her was Alec. The way he made the emptiness inside her, melt away.

**
Brimfield waited patiently for X-5 494 to return. His mission parameters were clear and he returned exactly when he told his superiors he would. He gave the X-5 a nod and told him Renfro wished to see him. Alec wished he had a chance to shower first. The slayer scent was still strong on him and quite frankly was driving him crazy. He walked to down the corridor, to Renfro's office and knocked. He was met with a sentry who told him, she was waiting for him.

Renfro smiled at the X-5, she knew he was one to follow orders, but she wanted to confirm that her project was well under way. Alec saluted as was customary.

"494- Were you able to initiate copulation with the slayer?"

"Affirmative ma'am." Alec replied without emotion.

"Good, starting tomorrow you will be expected to copulate with the Slayer unit, the minimum of four times per day. Her injections have been increased to achieve maximum fertilization. Do you think you can surpass tonight's results?"

"Affirmative."

"Excellent, X5-494, you are a credit to your unit. You're dismissed."
Alec prepared to leave when Renfro cleared her voice, "494, you have permission to enjoy her body as much as possible during copulation. You've earned it soldier.

"Yes ma'am."
Alec stopped by the shower rooms before heading to his barracks. He closed his eyes, he could still smell her and imagine the way her body felt. The way she cried out his name, it gave him a thrill to know that he was able to bring her pleasure. He knew if she showered, his scent would no longer be on her. That caused his eyes to fly open with a possessive growl. He needed to mark her, to let other X-5's know she was taken. He shook his head 'where the hell did that thought come from?

Chapter 5- Can't live with just one taste

Buffy was on edge, almost desperate to claw off her own skin. She had been pacing her cell all day, feeling restless. The effect from whatever the drugs they had been injecting her with had her panting heavily and feeling on edge all day. The Slayer in her was wound tight. The last couple of nights, her regime had been the same. She was given an opportunity to shower, eat, and right before bed, several soldiers would come to her door with some type of tazer, hold her down, and inject a blue syringe into her neck. Her mind was swamped with thoughts, none of them making any sense.

Whatever it was, she didn't feel the intensity she was feeling right now. Her skin was on fire and crawling with miniscule ants invading her every pore. Her body was shaking with nerves and her forehead was wet with perspiration. Her mind was in a fog. She was fighting hard to regulate her breathing, which was becoming increasingly erratic with each and every breath. She couldn't sit still and when they brought her dinner, she hadn't touched it. The pressure within her was increasing in its urgency. She was screaming inside from the intensity or craving the release of something deep inside, her… but had no idea what?

Then they brought in her antagonist, the man who she had had sex with at least four times already on several different occasions. Her body began to hum as soon as he entered her cell. For lack of anything to do, she crossed her arms to try to control the increased humming. The closer he got, the stronger the hum. She backed away breathing heavily.

"You okay?" Alec asked his face etched with concern as he approached Buffy. His eyes glazed over with lust as he picked up on the pheromones pouring from her slight frame. His body was reacting to hers as though he was the one in 'heat'. He closed his eyes and inhaled her unique scent. He had to hold back his desire to push her to the floor on all fours and dominate her like the feline species he was created from. His breathing was slowed due to his ability to concentrate under extreme duress.

"I'm fine, except…" Buffy started to back away from Alec. She hadn't got far away from him when she doubled over with the pain in her mid-section.

Alec was at her side in seconds. She looked up into his eyes and the only thing she could see was his body melding with hers in an erotic dance. She pushed him away and tried to keep focused.

"Just leave me alone… stay away…" She panted out, feeling the tremors inside her increase their intensity.

Alec approached her once more, cupping her cheek in his palm and turning her to face him. Before she could react, he was kissing her… slowly at first, and then with hunger as the moments passed. Both felt powerless to not react.

She looked up into his pure hazel eyes. Her mind fighting an internal battle against her body – the body that was causing her a strong desire to let this man have her in the most primal way; She tried to focus but the more she tried, the more she remembered the way his body felt inside of her, moving, stroking, bringing her to release; as only he could. Buffy was incapable of resistance, surrendering to the passion that was slowly building inside her.

Within moments, Alec had picked her up and helped her legs coil around his waist. Buffy tilted her head and Alec responded, grazing her lips with gentle nips, soothing them with his tongue as the kiss deepened.

The heat between them started to increase and clothes were torn off in a haze of lust and want. Alec knew this was dangerous territory because somewhere deep inside him, this young woman was touching something he never knew existed. He had joined with her on several occasions, but something was changing in the way he felt for the small blonde. He lifted her and placed her on his outer thighs leaning against the cell wall to gain purchase on her petite form. His hardened shaft slid into her, with only a slight resistance.

Alec's eyes closed tightly, the feel of her with nothing but flesh against flesh felt like complete ecstasy. He thrust hard, feeling the tip of his cock bumping her cervix. He stopped for a second to just stare at the wondrous creature he was currently joined with. Her channel gripped him like a velvet glove. She was tight, wet, and fit him to perfection. Alec leaned over her, again bracing himself against the wall. He watched her face intently as he propelled in and out of her with long, smooth strokes. Her eyes half-lidded in response to the delicious heat mounting inside her, his leisurely thrusting causing her to moan in complete pleasure. She gasped and began gentle thrusts of her own. At the sound of her breathy moans and whispers of his name, Alec gave in. He began to bury himself inside Buffy, thrusting hard and fast. She felt him swell with each thrust and cried out, so close to her release. His fingers made their way to her heated flesh, rubbing harshly. She came in a rush of slippery fluid and ear piercing screams but as she came down from her bliss, she could feel him still hard within her. He gave her a sexy smirk.

"I'm not done with you yet." He promised, his tight muscles flexing as he resumed his deep thrusts, eliciting another moan from her. His smirk widened. "I guess you're not done with me either. That's good, 'cause I can go all night."

He was mesmerized by the passion that exuded from her every pore. Each stroke brought him closer to their combined crisis. He felt her clinching, signaling her impending orgasm and before he could react his body starting to spurt his seed deep into her wanting womb. Buffy's orgasm washed over him, deep waves of pleasure. Her hot depths milked him of every last drop causing him to loose all focus.

Both locked in a heated gaze, Alec carried her over to the bunk and proceeded to deposit her form. He joined her, his need not yet sated. He flipped her over to her stomach, pushing his still hard cock inside her sopping center. Her body accepted his invasion with a vice grip despite her slick walls, grasping him pulling him all the way into her. He stilled for a moment, balls deep in this woman, whose body must have been made just for him. He wanted nothing more to release his next load into her and had he not just cum in her tight core, he was sure he would have gone off like a teenage schoolboy.

Alec began to move, grasping her hips to help her thrust back on to him. Her walls were slick with his essence and he knew that his seed was planted was a high possibility. Still he would not stop. Alec's balls slapped her hard as she squeezed pulling him into her deeper. Suddenly the idea of her body lush with his child was all he could picture, her depths were milking him, and he felt his balls constrict, another load shooting deep into Buffy as she screamed from the feel of her release. After their second joining, he worshiped her body with tenderness and began the journey of their lovemaking once again.

The third and fourth joining were less animalistic, but by the morning after their multiple couplings, he had barely pulled himself out of her hot center. His shaft began to swell and he was overcome with the desire to fill her once more. He entered her and groaned loudly as once again Buffy called out his name in pleasure. Again, they traveled the road to perfect pleasure, the rhythmic dance they were locked in taking them over completely as they rushed towards completion. With a hard final thrust, a harsh cry, and another wail from Buffy, his jerking erection began to erupt again and again until his balls were empty. Only when the shudders completely stopped did he withdraw from her sodden entrance.

She gazed into the eyes of the second man she had made love with. He smiled at her, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her against him as they both fell asleep, exhausted, yet finally sated.

When Buffy woke up late morning, she felt sorer than her first time. Her thighs felt sticky and irritated. She glanced around to notice she was alone again. Her head felt like someone had beaten her with a baseball bat. Every muscle in her body ached, and even her womb felt battered. She didn't know how many times she orgasmed but her body was starting to feel the effects of the aggressive joining. She was haunted by the memory of him, his lust-filled eyes, and the way he played her body like a harp from hell.

She was so screwed. She needed to leave before the option to leave was no longer viable

Chapter 6 Is This Love?

Buffy was only allowed a short reprieve of a day, where she was taken to the pristine lab, again! She was so exhausted from her activities the night before. Her body still felt slightly battered from overuse (or certain parts of her anatomy hurt.) She felt shame in how she had acted but it was like she couldn't control herself. They brought in the pretty boy- better known as Alec. He told her when they weren't alone to not call him that or they both would be screwed.

She acted like a cat in heat, practically rubbing herself all over him. He kissed her and she melted like ice cream in the desert. Okay, enough was enough. She would just keep away from him and hopefully they wouldn't bring him back. She had to have done something wrong- they were no longer allowing her to train or have access to the compound- other than to stretch by her-self.

The guards were looking at her as if they knew a secret. They all looked her up and down with a sneer. Could be suffering from slight paranoia? Didn't really matter; She felt too exhausted to play with the Lab pricks today. She would just let them run their little bloods tests and head back to the safe haven of her cell. Only a couple of more days and that escape hatch she was working on would be wide enough for her to squeeze through.
She lay on the cot, staring at the white sanitary tiled ceiling. She shot up in her bed when she heard screaming coming from the adjoining room. She prepared to slip out when an armed guard stood at the opening of her curtain. "Don't even think about it- slayer? … One move and its la-la time."

The screams started to subside and Buffy felt shame in the fact at this point she was feeling weak and wouldn't be able to protect whatever they were doing to the poor creature being tortured. She watched the guard with narrowed eyes, they were so lucky she was trying to feign compliance or she would enjoy smacking the snot out of these soldiers.

The doctor that they referred to as Dr. Meirs came up behind the soldier and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Is there a problem, private? Not stressing out my patient are you?"

The guard just glared at Buffy, "No Sir- Doctor." The soldier backed out of the area with one last look of disdain to Buffy.

Warren took Buffy's wrist to take her pulse, and marked it on the clipboard. He was holding. When this guy touched her, it made her insides shudder.

But before too long another doctor who eyed Buffy with genuine pity interrupted him, "452' is rejecting the serum and we need to know how much inhibitor cc to include in this round?"

Warren barely took his eyes off of Buffy, "Increase to 10 CC per unit for maximum results. Inform me of any changes."

The other lab coat left lowering his face in shame, when Buffy looked his way.

**

The following night played almost identically to the night before. Her body started to feel tight and uncomfortable. She knew he was coming back, she could feel him approach the cell… Her body wanted him, sought him, needed him to bring her to only the release she knew he could. Her breathing was slowly becoming harsher. She swallowed absently; her womb aching for him in all her most intimate places. She had backed away from the door, her mind trying to fight with what little resistance she had left.

She opened her eyes to Alec standing before her, his eyes had the same look as hers. They were drawn together by a force more powerful than anything she had ever witnessed.

Alec wanted, no, he needed to be inside his mate's body. Her body was calling to him and he was overtaken by the need to mate with her repeatedly. He pressed against her, covering her mouth with his in a hot, devastating kiss, sliding his tongue against hers sensually. So caught up she forgot to resist. His full lips parted hers roughly, as he stabbed her mouth with his tongue.

Not breaking the kiss, he unzipped her pants, letting them fall to the floor. She in turned pulled his t-shirt over his head, only breaking contact with his lips long enough to remove the barrier. She didn't understand how she could be so turned on by just a kiss; her body started to tingle and ache for the touch of his hands and mouth.

Once they both were divested of any and all barriers. Alec grabbed her ass cheeks, pulling her up to meet his shaft. Alec pushed into her with one thrust, withdrawing to the tip of his swollen shaft each time before slamming it in further. Buffy gasped as his hardness filled her, stretching her until she was resting against the base of his cock. She had never felt so full in her life. She had not even adjusted to his size and he pushed into her with deep thrusts, making her moan loudly.

Her center not only accepted his penetration but also pulled him in deeper until he was close to exploding. Alec leaned over her, again bracing himself on his forearms. Buffy's eyes slid closed and her luscious lips parted as she panted and moaned, overwhelmed by the carnal sensations he was forcing on her. He lowered his head to her round breast, sucking hungrily on the erect nipple before flicking it with his tongue. He gave the same attention to the other one, sucking and biting on the pink tips as if he couldn't get enough.

Alec started ramming into her hard, his balls, and thighs slapping loudly against her ass as he rammed his swollen cock into her soaking core, again and again. With the first thrust, he felt something different in the depths of his soul. For the first time in Alec's life, he felt warm, loved, as if this was the one thing his entire existence was missing. The thrusts were leisurely at first to give her time to adjust to his length. As the rhythm increased in tempo, Alec felt his impending orgasm start to take over. She clenched in anticipation of his arrival and joined him as her crisis met with his. His hips began to jerk as his shaft filled her womb with every once of his thick liquid. He wrapped his arms around her slender body, holding her to him. Making sure, his shaft reached her farthest depths. He felt her milking him with incredible slowness and did not want an ounce to escape her heated depths.

She slid her feet shakily to the floor. Her body still felt tight and hot. She whimpered, her eyes closed as she leaned against the wall. She felt the heat reverberating through her entire body.

Alec caressed her face, knowing what was wrong. Knowing exactly what she wanted, he pulled her to him. Filling his large hands with her firm ass cheeks, he lifted her at the same time he drove into her, making her cry out as he impaled her deeply. He carried her to the bed, his shaft still embedded inside her.

Buffy felt the heat intensify between her legs and she felt their combined juices run down between her cheeks onto the cot. When he finally lifted his head, Buffy's eyelids fluttered open. Her beautiful green eyes were glazed with lust as she gazed up at him pleadingly. "Alec."

Buffy's head thrashed from side to side as her moans and whimpers grew louder, and he knew that she was about to come. Sliding a hand under her to keep her hips lifted, he started rubbing his thumb over her pulsing clit while continuing to pound her roughly.

The rosy hue of her flushed chest was enticing. Her lips swollen, lids half closed in arousal. Her pants a symphony he wanted to listen to forever. She panted heavily- her moans became unbearable. He knew he would be cumming soon. His orders were to keep her on his shaft as long as possible to ensure procreation. Buffy tightened around him as her insides fluttered. Alec came with one last final powerful thrust, exploding in a burst of white-hot pleasure as his seed ripped through him jettisoning rapidly toward Buffy's womb.

When he felt that her body had swallowed every ounce, he pulled out. Their sweat covered bodies sliding against one another. Buffy's legs were slightly bent and shaking from the exertion of the coupling. Only giving her a moment to recuperate, he stroked his shaft causing it to swell easily, and pushed his newly hardened member back inside her narrow chamber. She gasped but soon felt his member causing her depths to clinch in wanton arousal.

After 36 hours of sex, Buffy's body lay on the bed with Alec wrapped around her. Her tiny stature was almost swallowed by his larger frame. He stroked her arms and reached down to kiss her shoulder. His senses taking in all of her; the way her chest raised slowly with every breath. The way her hair fell across her face. The way she smelled, it brought a smile to his lips. He had thoroughly marked her as his mate. She bore a small bruise on her neck, proclaiming to all she was his.

His desire for her had hardly curbed after thirty-six hours. They had only stopped after Buffy, pleaded with Alec telling him 'she couldn't take anymore'. He held her until the morning, his body finally drifting into a comforting sleep.

Alec stirred awake-Buffy's body cocooned by his, her sleeping form pressed against his while she slept. A small sense of pride washed over him, knowing that he'd left something behind, that after this- no other male X-5 would dare to touch her. Her body was entrenched with his scent- the evidence of their union caused Alec to beam with accomplishment. The heat, the passionate urge to be inside his mate had slowly started to fade around the last hour or so of their lovemaking; not that he wouldn't enjoy another couple rounds of copulation with Buffy.

**
The next morning, when the guard came to collect him, he was reluctant to leave Buffy. He was starting to feel a lot more than attraction to the small blonde. He had to be reminded several times by the guards that he was needed to meet with Renfro for his daily check in. His heart beat fast with each step away from her. What was wrong with him? The further away he got – the more the sinking feeling inside him increased. He shook the feelings off, what the hell was this about. Buffy was just his breeding partner. At least that's what he kept telling himself but the other voice inside him, snickered, yeah but you made her your mate; something that you can't take back now. Not that he wanted or even desired to undo it. It took only a few minutes after showering that he made his way back to the barracks with the other X-5's

Alec had tried desperately not to think of the blonde who was his breeding partner. That had given him extreme leeway with Buffy. They had even let him spend the night with her on more than one occasion. He had already marked her and they no longer let her train with them everyday. Of course, that had a lot to do with Max being temporarily in his unit. They did not want Buffy, the Slayer, and Max, X5-452, in the same unit; for fear of what they would likely do if they were together. Alec was explicitly forbidden to discuss either breeding partner with the other. Well in Max's case, she was his pseudo-breeding partner. But no one except him knew that little truth. Buffy on the other hand – he couldn't seem to get enough. His sex drive had increased eighty per cent with the Slayer. He doubted he would be able to with Max – even if he had the desire to copulate with her. He was also relieved that the other X-5's would not have access to his mate.

He knew you were strictly forbidden to get attached to your breeding partner but Buffy had become more than that and he couldn't stomach the idea of someone else sharing her. It had been less than five hours and already he was looking forward to being with her again. Renfro had more or less told him as long as he continued to bring her information on the X5-452, she would reward him with downtime involving Buffy.

Chapter 7- Desire vs. Love

Alec had started using his time with Max to catch up on his sleep, so when he entered her cell, she gave him her 'what the hell do you want now' glare. He surveyed her with bloodshot eyes and raised a condescending eyebrow. "Wake me up at 0100 hours. I have some time to kill before they send me back to the barracks."

Max sighed, crossing her arms in frustration. He had an hour to kill before they gave him more time with his other breeding partner; he didn't have to tell her who it was. She could smell Buffy all over Alec, there was that and she smiled wickedly... the fact he had called out her name in his sleep. She watched as he closed his eyes and stretched languidly across her bed. "You're such a pain in my ass, Alec." She groaned, sliding down against the opposing concrete wall.

As soon as his eyes shut, he began to dream. His name carried over the climatic whispers. Her pleas for more filled his senses. His body writhed scorched by her touch. Her warm moans and pants cascaded like a harmonic melody around him as golden tresses fell around his face, his fingers trailing through them to run down the soft skin covering her spine. She shivered in his arms, pressing down against his waist. He groaned, bucking against the soft pressure of her skin against his. He sighed, being around her was like breathing in a rush of frozen air, and his heart felt like was going to leap out of his chest into his throat and out of his mouth-Straight into her hands. During the last four weeks, he'd been having almost non-stop sex with the slayer and somewhere along the lines-, it stopped being just copulation. 'Is this what love feels like?' His tired brain asked the darkness behind his eyes. No, it couldn't be. He was just having exceptional sex. (Really exceptional) In his mind, Alec's lips twisted into a sardonic smile. He'd have to steer clear of that line of thinking or it would be the end of him, because every minute he was around her he felt as if he couldn't touch her enough. Even now, though his mark on her had healed, it was still visible- All one had to do just was pull that tantalizing collar down to expose the perfect creamy skin of her neck to see it, not that he'd allow any other male to even get close. The girl was his; After all and the scenting, though only discernable by the X5 soldiers and possibly the X-6's, still clung to her skin like a sensual perfume.

Max shifted on the hard concrete to relieve the cramping in her lower back, trying to figure out why the X-5 was so damn compliant. He'd played along with their pretend copulation and (quite obviously) was not divulging her secret of trying to escape. She was still really curious about this Slayer she'd heard about, and she vaguely remembered her instructors mentioning of slayers in the Manticore classes when she was younger. But when she had asked the Lydecker what a slayer was - he chortled about them, being made up boogiemen for otherworldly monsters that helped the ordinaries feel safe at night. She'd heard of Slayers when she lived in Los Angeles, but nothing concrete. Moody, her mentor in the fine art of relieving others of their property, had always made certain parts of L.A off limits to their nightly wanderings.

She laughed, remembering an old story about an ageless man who owned the Hyperion hotel. The rumor was that he was a vampire, and had been in love with a slayer. 'Bingo' Max grinned. That was where she'd heard about slayers. Max had asked Moody, the man who had schooled her on cat-burglar skills, about possibly casing the place. He refused to even think about it and proceeded to tell her the history of an ancient warrior who supposedly fought the forces of darkness. Max shook her head. Not that she believed in any of that hocus-pocus. But then, she pondered. If the rumors around Manticore were to be believed, then apparently it was possible that other freaks existed too. 'Guess they actually caught one.' She thought, wondering about this development, and what it spelled for her plans for escape and the future of Manticore.

**
Riley was disgusted with his superiors; he had been ever since they'd insisted that the Slayer be mated with the Assassin. He'd already attempted to remove her one night but he failed miserably, and Riley knew that he'd have to plan more carefully before he tried again. Renfro was not a woman to be crossed lightly, and if he did this, his career in the military would be over. He hadn't planned on the extended breeding program they'd designed for the Slayer and what the hell they'd been doing with her, he didn't know. Currently, he was approaching the cell in the guise he'd need to speak to the Slayer. As he arrived, two soldiers were seated outside the cell playing a game of cards as the sounds of grunts and moans ricocheted off the stone cement walls. The cavalier attitude of the soldiers outside the cell sent a chill shooting up is spine. For them it was an ordinary thing to hear the animalistic cries coming from the room beside them. It was unnatural.

Both soldiers stood when they saw him. "Private, do you mind telling me what's going on here?" Riley snapped.

Both watched him with apt attention, the one on the left saluted crisply, saying "Sir, slayer unit is copulating with X5-494 per Renfro's orders."

"I want her pulled immediately." Riley spat.

"No can do Sir- under direct order from Renfro. There is to be no interruption of the copulation even under threat of death, Sir."

Riley shook his head, bile rising in his throat. The poor girl was probably already pregnant, or he re-phrased, would be soon if the sounds coming from her cell were any indication. After questioning the guards extensively and discovering the information he had gleaned he was not pleased with, Riley headed back to his office. As he walked down the hall, he pulled the file on the copulation schedule of 494. Apparently, for the last three to four weeks, the X5-494 -unit was copulating at a minimum of four times a day. Only one attempt; by his friend and colleague Graham; had been made to remove the slayer, after hearing her crying but 494 displayed aggressive behavior and growled at him, and that had resulted in a failure. Graham had immediately shut the door and locked it, and afterwards was given a stern order from Renfro herself to never interfere in the project again.

The guards appointed to sit outside the doors of the Slayer- had a pool going over how many hours a night she was being screwed. The compound was brimming of rumors of what was being done to the girl and the guards who had dealt with the slayer were more than happy she was finally getting some payback.

One week later…

Renfro entered the lab. Life was sweet. She had her Slayer project well under way. Her favorite '452' project was coming to a head. The Slayer project was no longer top priority. Its anticipated success was well under way. Her smile was reminiscent of the Joker of pre-Pulse media. She approached Warren with a confident swagger. "Dr. Meirs, you keep this up and there could be a commendation."

"I'm thinking more of Nobel Prize." Warren returned the smile with a confident grin. Renfro's entire demeanor revealed her pleasure. Warren reported that the copulation schedule of the Slayer had caused the Slayer to bleed the previous night. So, they were to allow a short reprieve until they copulated again.

They had been copulating off and on for the last weeks. There had even been a thirty-six hour period where they locked him in with the Slayer. The guards were told to not interfere under any circumstances. However, this had resulted in the soldier being reluctant to leave her. That meant that he was becoming attached and they could not allow that. Thus, the small separation would help.

Renfro was thoroughly impressed. Meirs was truly a genius. "How did you ever think of this?" Renfro in awe of what most of the people had aptly coined the 'Mad scientist of Manticore'.

"You met my wife Katrina… Right, she is my inspiration."

He got a twisted smile on his face. Warren had met his wife in college. She had attempted to leave him only once over one of his sex-bots, but with some help from some magic and some chemistry, he was able to control her to this day. The drug had to be altered, of course, to be redesigned specifically with the Slayer and the X-5s in mind. A thought suddenly occurred to Warren, and he stopped Renfro as she turned to leave the lab. "Make sure the Slayer is allowed no contact with any additional X-5's."

"Is there a specific reason?" Renfro was suddenly curious at the change of topic.

"Her hormones along with her fertilization injections may cause additional male X-5s to respond to her fertile state. The drug will stay in her system for about six months before it will wear off." Warren relayed the additional information without any regret.

"Why so long?" Renfro asked.

"Because of her DNA and blood compounds a higher than usual dose was required to keep her estrogen and womb ripe for conception." Warren turned on his stool, and cleared his voice to catch Renfro before she left the lab. "Also Miss Summers' estrogen levels spiked yesterday. So we are working with very fertile ground, you may even get multiple fertilization."

Renfro shrugged off the new information as though it was little or no concern. "Keep me posted on the progress."

Several decorated officers entered the lab, to stand before Renfro. They saluted and gave pleasantries. The head general then stood in front of the scientist and addressed Warren. Warren, of course, stood; he knew what side his bread was buttered on.

"Dr. Meirs, I have spoken to my associates in Washington, and they are thoroughly impressed with your job on operation 'Slayer Procreation'. They wish you to attend a symposium next week, do you think you'd be able to go?"

"It would be my esteemed honor."

"Let me know as soon as we have confirmation of the Slayer being pregnant," Changing gears, "How is Dr. Levinson doing?"

"Fine, but I don't want to leave him behind during my absence, so you might want to temporarily send him somewhere."

"You believe he will sabotage your work."

"Not intentionally, but this girl is bringing out a side of him that, left to his own devices…" Warren broke off and got to the point. "I'm not sure he would be able to do the right thing."

The decorated officer nodded in understanding," I think he needs a vacation, don't you?"

"My sentiments exactly. Oh and you might want to send his buddy Riley away too, he and Jonathan are tight. So who knows what scheme those two are trying to cook up?"

The officer retorted, "You believe Special Agent Finn is willing to compromise the project?"

"Normally, I would say no, but this girl is bringing something out in both of them that just makes me question their judgment."

"Renfro, you heard the young man. Make it so."

"Right away … Sir."

Everyone left the lab leaving a very ecstatic Warren. He started to look at her latest test results and a sinister smile graced his face. "Well, Buffy, I knew you were special… but who knew exactly how much?" His Grinch-like grin spread even further as he began to glance over the computer readout on one 'Buffy Summers'.

**
Buffy slowly opened her eyes, she felt like she was coming off a two-week drinking binge. Her breasts felt heavy and swollen. She needed to take a shower because her thighs were sticky and her mound was swollen. Her body still felt so sore from the tops of her head to tips of her toes. The things in between were really starting to throb. She needed to get up before the damn guards took her to training. But her uterus even hurt, she sat up and pulled the covers back. She felt so tired and her abdomen felt so full. Wincing, she tried to stand and had to hold onto the wall for support. She looked at the bunk and then to herself to notice, Sometime in the night, she had started to bleed; only a little, but enough to notice. As many times as her and Alec had gone at it, she thought at her body was going to incinerate from the heat alone.

At one point they had almost broke the cot, from the heavy exertions they had taken part in. She couldn't seem to curb her appetite for him. Her body was starting to feel a little different. Of course, for the last few weeks, she had been on a sexathon with the sarcastic soldier. He fucked her so hard one night that she had ripped the showerhead off, trying to hold on. The memory of Alec filling her was almost too much to bear. She could feel him like a phantom- touching her skin. The heat of her skin had already started to cool and at least her insatiable desire of him had calmed down. It was like she could finally think without her body craving him throbbing inside her.
She was surprised when nighttime rolled around and no one had bothered her the entire day with the exception to bring her food. At that point, she was so exhausted from everything. It took very little as Buffy drifted to dreamland, her body tossed and turned.

*Dream Sequence*

In a soft whisper, she heard her name being called from far away. Beckoning her like a moth to light, "Buffy!"

"Buffy" A voice she did not recognize called to her from a distance.

"It's coming. You need to go now! Don't wait! Just go!"
Suddenly there was fire and smoke everywhere and she couldn't breathe. The flames shot out in all directions. There was screaming, worse than in hell. She couldn't escape. Her door was locked. Then she suddenly found herself outside, amidst chaos. She saw the forest, a pretty dark haired girl running in the opposite direction with soldiers and Alec chasing her. They were followed by a man that looked a little like Oz did when he changed into a werewolf, so this man was obviously some type of hybrid.

Her attention was drawn by the sound of thunder, or some type of explosion. When she turned back, she saw flames shooting out and the sound of breaking glass, from a huge facility that looked like the outside of this complex, she was currently housed.

Then an onslaught of creatures, some looked human, some like demons. Buffy stood in a fighting stance as the creatures all ran through her as though she was not even there. She attempted to run toward the burning building when, Giles stepped right in front of her shaking his head.
"Buffy, this will come to pass. There is nothing you can do."

Buffy was confused, but then seldom did these dreams ever make sense. "How are you here? I was told that..." Buffy spoke with the emotion that threatened to overwhelm her but Giles kind blue eyes spoke without any waver, and somehow knew this is what she needed.

"That's not important. They have a champion to help them. But you must escape or everything is for nothing. You are needed. You must escape. There are innocent lives depending on you. Go… You know what you have to do."

*End Dream*

Buffy awoke the next morning, her body covered in perspiration. She knew what was coming and she also knew it was time. For the last several weeks, she had been working on cement blocks under her bunk every chance she was allowed, unknowingly mirroring a woman she only dreamed of. It hadn't been easy with her and Alec's activities but she still found small amounts of time, she was just biding her time for the right opening; looked like the opportunity was now.

She kicked the remaining blocks away and pulled away the debris. She looked back at her cell one last time, when the voice rang out in her head. 'Go Buffy. It's time.' She pulled herself through and she landed downward. She walked along a narrow space. She heard voices, one she recognized the other two were new. She quietly approached to decipher if this was a good idea to make herself known or not.

"You're in no shape to be tangling with those X7's. If you're lucky, you'll make it to the yard and they'll take you alive." Alec snorted. He really had to play this out to make Max believe him.

"Then help me." Max demanded; her aggravation was clearly evident by the look on her face. She really couldn't stand Alec most of the time.

"I told you, I'm not looking for trouble." Alec waved his hands to let Max know he wanted no part of this scheme. Well, he had his orders but he had to appear nonchalant.

"This is your chance to get me out of your life for good." Max tried to reason with Alec. There had to be something keeping the idiot here and food and shelter just didn't cut it with Max.

"I guess if you escape, I'll get more time with my other breeding partner." Alec started to smile thinking of his little blonde haired vixen.

"Now we're talking."

Alec walked over to Max and both proceeded to file away at the bars on the window, while Joshua stood a short distance away. Joshua watched with casual interest.

They both stopped when they heard a noise behind them and Joshua growled softly. All three turned to see a small blonde standing before them.

She smiled at the irony of the situation and recognized both the dark haired girl and the man-dog from her dream. "Is this a private party or can anyone join?" Buffy quipped.

Alec was stunned, this was the last place he expected to see Buffy, and his tight loins reminded him of how long he had been without touching her. But he kept his resolve, "Buffy? What are you doing down here?" Alec questioned. You couldn't tell by looking at his face the inner turmoil at seeing his mate.

"Obviously the same thing as you…" She pointed to the bars. "Need any help?" She walked forward slightly to let them know, she was there to get the hell out of here.

Max watched the faces of both Buffy and Alec and tried to gage the relationship between the two. There was some serious chemistry going on between the two, but that was none of her concern. She was just worried that she had been set up. "Alec did you set me up?" She turned to Alec ready to beat him down.

Buffy interrupted before Max had a chance to ask anything further. "No, he had nothing to do with this. I just think I've enjoyed enough of this place's hospitality and if you guys are checking out of hotel hell, if you don't mind. I'm gonna tag along."

Alec turned back to the filing and attempted to remove the fact that Buffy was here. If he reacted too much, Max might figure out that she was set up and he would thus be punished accordingly. He would deal with Buffy later, after getting Max free.

Max shrugged her shoulders, accepting Buffy's explanation and going over the specifics of the plan with all present – explaining that the danger was to someone she only referred to as 'a friend'. If she was right, Max thought of the guy, she was trying to protect as a lot more than just a friend. Alec however wanted the focus removed from Buffy. He pointed his chin in Joshua's direction. "Kinda makes you wonder what else is down here. I mean, seriously, did you get a look at that thing."

"He's not a thing. His name is Joshua." Max retorted with bite in her words.

Joshua paced, "X-7's in the forest. Pretty...pretty whack." Joshua shook his head with doubt that they could overcome the sonar soldiers.

"X7's? Oh you mean the bat guys?" Buffy questioned. She remembered mention of this guys once before.

"Yeah –" Max answered Buffy, but was interrupted by Alec.

"Yeah, yeah, Sasquatch... Hey, why don't you make yourself useful, and, uh...quit mumbling and come over here and help us out with these bars?"

" Okay." He gestured at them to get off the crates. Stepping down, still avoiding Buffy at all cost. Alec motioned sarcastically to the bars. Joshua pulled the bars off with one tug and handed them to Alec with a growl. Alec gulped in response and took the bars laying them on the floor.

"Everybody knows what to do? " Max glanced to all three people. Her eyes settled on Buffy just a minute longer.

Alec questioned, "And the X-7's."

"You set em up, I'll knock 'em down." Buffy smirked and cracked her knuckles.

"I like this girl already." Max smiled at Buffy, impressed by her attitude. The rumors about this girl, if they were true, the X-7s did not stand a chance.

"I owe these guys serious payback." Buffy smiled with a glint in her eye. These were the same bastards that tried to give her a group beat down and drug her to solitary. She was so looking for the opportunity to kick these bastards ass. Because this time, she was not drugged up and could give them the full Monty. She turned one last time to Max once they had succeeded in slipping out the window. "You go...save your friend...I'll take care of the Batman edition G.I Joe's."

Alec had to quickly adapt to the fact Buffy had joined the escape party, but he was good at improvisation. Alec approached the X-7s and began to distract them. Suddenly from out of nowhere, Joshua started to run through the forest and Alec chased him halfway before he called to the X-7s. "Hey! He's getting away, come on!"

The X-7s pursued Joshua and once they were out of sight, Max dropped down from the tree behind them and started to run. Alec tackled Joshua to the ground in a mock-attack while an X-7 approached and Alec kicked him and caused him to fall to the ground. "Oh, sorry, kid." Then Joshua and Alec were surrounded.

Alec and Joshua held their hands up in mock surrender. "Whoa, whoa Boys- No need for firepower, fellas. Just trying to help."

Buffy then appeared from out of the shadows of the forest. With a motion too quick to see, she began to grab their guns and break them in two.

"I have told you guys before," she snarled as each gun snapped, "These things are never helpful."

In a flurry of kicks and spins, all but two of the X-7s were beaten and unconscious on the ground. She took a deep breath, waiting for them to make a move.

Alec was torn between following orders and staying with Buffy. Joshua did not need anyone to tell him as he took the opportunity to flee over the fencing and left all in his wake.

He did not want to leave her; he wanted so desperately to tell her what he had started to feel for her. Buffy turned and noticed his silent stare.

"Buffy...I..." Alec stammered.

She turned back to the last standing X-7s. Without looking, she told Alec with finality, "GO! Help Max, I got this." When she sensed he still had not left, she yelled again. "I SAID GO!"

Alec left to follow Max; Joshua was long gone, taken the opportunity for freedom to heart. He scanned the area and realized she had already crossed the perimeter fence and was headed toward the city. It only took him a few minutes to catch up with her.

Buffy faced off the remaining two; she has already leveled the other five of the X7s. "So you got a little bat in you. Interesting… Show me what ya got and I'll show you what a Slayer really IS."

She closed her eyes as she went into full Slayer mode, becoming aware of her surroundings. She countered every hit by the X7s. She took a deep breath and all the X-7s were on the ground.

Not one to waste a minute, she took off into the woods and picked up speed. She was too damn close to freedom this time. Her smile became wider as she covered the ground quicker and faster. She did not look back.

Buffy was exhilarated, it may have taken some time, but she was finally free. Free to just be Buffy. She made into a clearing and spotted a road off to the right. It seemed like she had been running through the forest for hours. The song 'Welcome to the jungle' rang in her head and she smiled not to overuse a quote but 'free at last'. She closed her eyes a genuine smile on her face, when she opened them; she spotted an armored truck. Out of nowhere, she saw three men approach her, chanting in Latin. Two of the men grasped her arms while the third continued to chant in Latin.

"Buffy Anne Summers, by the authority of the Council of Watchers, we are remanding you into Watcher custody until you prove that you are not a danger to yourself or others."

"What the hell are you people… talking about?" Buffy struggled against the two men. The third man stood in front of her with a grim face. She should have known; she was officially out of the frying pan and into the fire.

"Due to your delicate condition, we will forego the drugs but you will be traveling to the United Kingdom, where you will be detained indefinitely."

The three men now looked pleased, as the lead one nodding in approval closed the book he had read from, another had stepped back while the third prepared to handcuff her.

Buffy called on all her reserves, even though it felt like her Slayer strength had left her. She closed her eyes, and head butted the man directly behind her. A groin kick took out the second, while a roundhouse followed by another kick to the groin took out the third.

Rule #4: When all else fails bring 'em down by any means necessary.

"No. I will be leaving now."

When she got free, she headed back towards Manticore. She could run forward far enough to lose them and then maybe double-back. It was still early in the evening although the darkened skies made it appear later.

It took about thirty minutes but finally she lost the three men in the woods. When she prepared to double back she noticed an onslaught of creatures, some not so human looking headed her way in an ill-organized stampede. She recalled the same thing from her dream earlier, since she sensed no real threat. She took the opportunity to be lost in the fray, kept running, and did not stop until her feet hit pavement.

She finally had come to some type of civilization. Shocked by the overall state of things, she took a few minutes to take in her new environment. It looked like a slum, not that she wasn't surprised. She had to live in less than desirable place when she ran away and her years in hell taught her that things could always be worse. Crouching down, she pulled the lid off the sewer drain. It was dark but she had no clue of who would be trying to capture her. She would take her chances in the sewers. After the lunatics she had been dealing with, demons were looking pretty good at this point. She dropped down, landing with a splash

**

Dirty, bedraggled, and feeling exhaustion coming over her, Buffy took a chance to go above ground to find it was pitch black outside. How long had she been down there, that it was still dark? Still, she could not complain – it would be easier to hide in the cover of deep night. Besides years of being, the Slayer, not to mention her sojourn in hell, made her more than at home in the dark.

She needed to find a place to hide for the night and deal with where she was in the morning. She wrapped her arms around herself, and found herself in a in a run down neighborhood.

She relied on her Slayer sense to find somewhere without any life signs. The last thing she needed was to try to figure out who was a friend and who was a foe at this point. She was finally rewarded with an old abandoned split-level that reminded her of her house in Sunnydale.

She knocked the door down with a deft spin kick. The house was obviously abandoned, the cobwebs and dust could attest to that. Finally satisfied it was empty after checking all the rooms, she found the bathroom and sent up a silent prayer.

'Please let there be water, hot would be wonderful but I can deal with plain H2O.'

She turned the knobs and her hands were hit with water, warm and abundant. She bent down to rub the liquid against her face briskly.

She also needed to change her clothes and find food. She had searched the house earlier and had been lucky. It was if the Powers That Be were finally taking pity on her. The clothes were dusty but usable and they were baggy. But beggars could not be choosers. She had to get out of these fatigues and blend into her surroundings. Because who knew what was going to come after her next.

The house appeared if the people just up and left in the middle of the night. The table had been set for dinner, the placemats still in their proper position. There were just no signs of life in the entire structure.

She was rewarded with her early scavenging to find some toiletries, clothes and a bed to sleep in. After she had taken a bath, she went to the kitchen to browse the cabinets.

Her stomach began to rumble so she went into the kitchen and found bunches of cans of soup. They had no expiration date, so if was a safe bet they were still good. She then searched the drawers- no can opener. Using her wits, she found a butcher knife, and made quick use of the sharp object. Lukewarm soup was a whole lot better than nothing, she thought as she ate in silence.

She was now clean, warm and fed. Her basic needs had been met, so now it was time to find a place to sleep. Her search earlier she had found a bedroom, musty but usable. She pulled the dusty sheet off the bed and climbed under the bed. You could never be too careful; she had learned that one in hell. Never stay out in the open. She curled into a ball under the bed and finally fell asleep with the sheet wrapped around her lithe body.

**

Chapter 8-Everybody wants her.

The sound of running water echoed in the background of the mass caverns. The walls covered in Egyptian hieroglyphics. Chanting could be heard over the den natural sounds. Two men dressed in business suits sat at a small table in the center of the stone walled area looking quite out of place in their surroundings.

The first man stood abruptly, aggravation clear upon his visage. "Let me get this straight – not only did they lose the X5 specimen that we've been looking for. They let loose a Slayer." His face began to show pure outrage. "Do you have any idea how badly they have fucked up!"? The man paced furiously seemingly very angry at the information he had received.

"Agent White, Sir." The other man pleaded with a confused look on his face.

He shrugged his shoulders in acceptance and sat back down, "This is a royal screw up. I am tired of cleaning up Manticore's mess. Now I must explain to a very powerful organization that runs most of Europe's underground. WE lost a Slayer."

'Sir, with all due respect, what is a Slayer?"

"A Slayer is a girl with the strength of twenty men; she can take down armies alone. And now I have to explain to my superiors that we have one running around in Seattle, Washington, loose."

"She doesn't have paperwork. She's not going to get Far."

"Otto, do you honestly think something as trivial as paperwork is going to stop this girl. If she gets a yen to track you down and kill you, she will. She is not engineered. She was born a warrior, it's in her blood."

"So, what do we do now?"

"Now, well, now we, uh, go home. We pray really, really hard that she doesn't expose the massive government conspiracy that we've been assigned to cover up."

"Oh, sarcasm... Very good, sir…" Otto replied complacent.

Both men, prepared to stand. They would need to travel to Seattle, Washington. Both broke apart to ready for their trip overseas.

Sitting in the background of the room was a stone archway, hidden in the shadows beyond where the men had stood. Yet, had the room been lit properly, it would have had the pride of place, like some kind of ancient altar. For within the archway was a picture, painted in a style more akin to the Ancient Egyptians than anything else.

Upon a grand throne sat a girl, elegantly garbed in a white robe, a new anachronism as her face stared out of the picture, a beautiful face, haloed in long golden hair. To each side a figure knelt, garbed in clothes that could only be armor? The shoulders faced outwards, but each face was profiled, looking at the enthroned girl. Yet a new anachronism appeared, for while on the left was a man with short, dirty blonde hair, on the right was a young woman, her own hair long and dark.

**

Warren walked down a dark corridor, his steps echoed with slight pounds as he reached his destination. Each door held numbers that glowed in the buzzing of the fluorescent lights. Suddenly he stopped and sequences of beeps blazed as the door slid open.

The cell was dark, only the embers of a cigarette could be seen in its dark gloom. Warren stood in the doorway, lit only by the lights behind him.

"Wake up. I have a job for you to do."

The room was silent at first. There was no sound for a few minutes, and then the rustle of fabric and the sound of a squeaky bunk and feet hitting the floor signaled the inhabitant's wakefulness.

"So ...What does the all powerful doctor have today for me to do?" The deep British accent rang out.

"I need you to go fetch a Slayer. I know you're good at that." Warren stated with little or no emotion.

"Really, and s'pose I go fetch this Slayer for ya? What's in it for me?"

"You get out for a while? See the sights? Take in a show?"

"I don't know. I've been hurt before. Don't want to rush things."

"Get dressed and I will go over the plans. Sandeman issued you a pass to go to Seattle, Washington."

"Heard its cold there this time of year… And 'sides, how do you know I won't hurt the bint?"

"Because you can't … Hostile 17..."

"I toldja… Not to call me that… Name's Spike." His feet now on the floor, he looked up to the doctor while he pulled another cigarette out of his pocket, to light. "What's a Doctor want with a Slayer anyhow?"

Warren didn't answer right away," Get dressed and I might even let you visit your old pal. Project 729."

"And how is the big Poof?" Spike snorted with a small laugh.

"Him and his bitch aren't producing like we'd hoped –"

"Whatsa matter? Nancy boy can't get it up?" Spike laughed at his own joke and proceeded to stand and stretch.

"No. But then that project's been waylaid for some time, especially after we caught ourselves a Slayer."

"This Slayer gotta name?" Spike pulled the cigarette out of his mouth to eye the doctor.

"Yeah and you know her as a matter of fact. It's Buffy Summers..."

"Buffy?" Spike's eyes widened at the revelation of Buffy still being alive. There was more to this than what was being said but Spike would figure it out in time. He always did.

**

"WHO DARES CALL UPON THE ALL POWERFUL!"

Sinister clouds of purple smoke appeared and a slim leather encased body stepped forward. Her bright red lips gleamed in the candlelight. The power oozed from the figure's seductive form. She lowered her arms and absorbed the scene as it unfolded in front of her. She quirked an eyebrow at the man who sat amidst a circle, his chest, and arms painted in henna symbols. The black candles at each direction still lit. It was definitely her ritual to bring her forth.

"Oh… its you … What do you want?" Her tone changed after she realized who had called her. It had changed from loud, powerful to normal, and somewhat kind. "Do you have any idea what I do to men? Are you gay now? If so, I can still work it…"

"No. I'm not gay and I'm desperate." The man let his eyes fill with shame.

"Okay. You have my interest. Why would you contact me if you didn't want vengeance?" Mysrinfol's entire tone changed once she realized who had called her.

"There's a girl." The man slowly said with trepidation.

The redhead began to babble, a trait as was common with her when she was still human, and her excitement building with each question. "Did she steal your girlfriend, because technically I can still work that angle too."

"No… Nothing like that," He shook his head to let her know that was not the case.

"You better start explaining or I am going to have to fill out a report on why I didn't kill the man who called me." Slight disappointment filled her eyes at the revelation.

"It's Buffy." The simple answer caused the redhead to pause in mid thought.

"Buffy, she has been gone for twenty years… How?" Her pacing stopped at the mere mention of the name.

"We think she was sent to a hell dimension. Somehow, she got out, but ended up at a facility called Manticore. She escaped and no one knows where she is. She's alone, scared and I'm afraid my hands are tied. Please she needs our help." The man pleaded, knowing that if there were a way then she would find a solution. Mysrinfol was a very powerful force to be reckoned with.

"I'll see what I can do and next time; don't use the spell to contact me." Mysrinfol gave the man a scolding look as one might give a puppy that piddled on the floor. "You know D'Hoffryn hates it when I use this gig for personal use. Call me on the cell like you're supposed to?" She picked up the cell attached to her side and shook it as a reminder.

"I tried. You didn't pick up for like over a week." The short man stood and faced the Redhead as though she were on a pedestal far beyond his comprehension … His adoration of the lovely redhead apparent from the look in his eyes.

"I really need to talk to them about the reception in the ninth circle. Okay. I'll check into this and see what I can find."

"Thanks, Willow." The man bowed majestically to the seductive redhead in a low sweeping motion.

"No problem. Jonathan." Willow disappeared in the same purple smoke she had appeared.

Chapter 9- Getting Back to Basics

AN: episode transcripts were used to get to certain points but the story is au so don't expect precision.

The smell of dust and debris filled Alec's nostrils. His hands felt cool metal against his skin. He slowly opened his eyes to see the chains protruding from the ceiling and carefully followed them with his eyes and he noticed he was in some type of warehouse- in a cage suspended from the ceiling. He jumped to his feet when he heard a voice behind him.

"That was an impressive display last night." A man in his mid-thirties stared at Alec with vague interest. His hands clasped behind his back.

"Nice to have fans," Alec smirked.

Another gentleman approached from the side and handed the man a picture along with a file. He whipped the picture up to gauge Alec's reaction. "Tell me, 494, have you been in contact with this girl?" He held in his hand a digitized picture of 452- Max.

Alec shrugged his shoulders and shook his head no. Agent White was however not deterred. "Hmm, we know you were breeding partners back at Manticore." He scrutinized Alec looking for any weakness.

Alec held the bars and retorted jovially, "It was a summer fling."

White laughed, "What about the slayer? She was supposedly your breeding partner too?" White turned his head to the side gauging his reaction. "We would really like to get our hands on her."

"Why would I know where this slayer is? What are you FBI or NSA?"

"Let's just say I was sent to remove all evidence of Manticore and leave it at that." White just humfed and turned to the other man standing on his right. "Get a DNA sample and then dispose of the body."

"Killing me is not gonna solve your problem?"

"True but it's a start," White turned his Back on Alec to speak to the other man.

"You're gonna need to find them, I can help." Alec supplied.

"So you expect me to believe you would turn on your own kind." White turned to appraise 494's attitude.

"Try me." Alec stoned face replied to White with no emotion.

White had Alec removed from the cage and brought to a medical office attached to the warehouse. He showed Alec the explosive they have placed in his spine along with the time limit he was currently under. "You know you could make this real easy on yourself and bring us that slayer and we would forget the whole thing. Truth is someone stole her records. We can't even find as much as a photo of her." White changed gears suddenly unwilling to divulge too much information. "Bring me back three bar codes of three trangenics and I will disarm it, you have twenty four hours." He tossed Alec a knife with a sadistic smile, "Happy hunting."

Why did White have such an interest in Buffy? He would bring him the proof of purchase but even if he knew where Buffy was, he had no intention of letting anyone know. The whole point of trying to raise money had been to find her. He was planning on going to California to search for her when the bastards had nabbed him.

Three weeks later…

Life was good, not great, but doable. She had escaped the clutches of the Watcher's Council and that insane place she had been locked up in. She found out a week ago, the place was called Manticore and that there were conflicting reports of what really went on there. She would not admit to anyone that she had grown attached to the soldier known as Alec. He obviously escaped to go on with his life and it was high time she did too. So just, chalk up her having got attached to the wrong guy once again. She still missed Angel, but her time in that place did help with one thing: moving past her pain. She smiled to herself and was currently filling up the mugs with the beer on tap and serving drinks to the bar patrons. A job that she had landed quite by accident, she normally didn't work at night because of fear of what would track her.

She had been fortunate to find a boss who did not want to know the details of why she had no paperwork. He had understood of her fear to work at night and even had been extremely accommodating. She had stumbled upon this lucky break when she came in the bar, three weeks ago trying to get an idea of how to get out of this town. She had been in survival mode so long she was apprehensive at first but the manager Michael had been so kind, she finally felt like maybe just maybe the 'Powers That Be' were actually showing her a small degree of mercy. She could go back home or as close as home as she could and search for Giles or somebody from her past. At this point, she would take anything that was a part of her past.

Her boss had found her a place to live, given her a job that paid decently and papers so that she could move about the city undetected. That was just storybook luck as far as she was concerned. She finally after much badgering by Michael to work a night agreed reluctantly, He assured her that tips at night were a lot bigger and more plentiful.

She had only been working for a couple of hours when a small tingle ran up her spine. She glanced around the bar, when her eyes landed on section six, 'Oh shit this was so not happening.' Her eyes grew wide and she closed her eyes hoping the occupants of the table didn't have time to spot her and also hope that this was a nightmare.

She dropped down behind the counter, blowing a big breath out at spotting the two people she really did not want to see, if they were here who was to say they didn't get caught and were looking for her to use as leverage?

"Crappity… crapppity… crap." Buffy spouted crouched under the bar. She was deep in thought on how she was going to get out of this, when Michael, the bar manager spotted her on the floor.

"What the hell you doing on the floor?" the older man had basically taken Buffy under his wing when she showed up. He looked at her as though he simply could not figure this girl.

She smoothed her hand over the floor and looked up at Michael with one of her eyes closed, as if something was in her eye. "Contact... Lost it somewhere… Aha! Here it is. She made as if to pop a lens back in. See, good as new." She smiled cheerily.

"Section eight needs drinks and they get rowdy if you don't keep 'em coming." Michael stated with a strange look, trying to figure out why Buffy was all of a sudden so jumpy. The tall man with the curly graying locks just shook his head in wonder.

"No problem…" Buffy winced trying to think of something to avoid going near the table with Alec and Max at. She spotted the serving tray on the end of the bar. She grabbed it and used it to shield her face while she went over to take the table's order. She deliberately maneuvered herself so that her back was to the group at Max and Alec's table.

While taking their order, someone at Alec's table tried to get her attention. Her back turned, but, when she started to back away, she flipped up the serve tray again. "Be right with you." She tried to change her voice slightly and practically ran back to the bar.

Breathing a sigh of relief at being back at the bar, Buffy started filling up the pitchers and getting them ready. She turned slightly to set a pitcher on the counter when she spotted him, coming straight towards her. His attention was on the waitress he was currently flirting with. Buffy squeaked and dropped back down behind the bar. She waited a good fifteen minutes, when she realized he was not coming to the bar.

Once Buffy thought the coast was clear, she peeked around and he had headed into another direction. She blew a sigh of relief. She turned to fill up more pitchers and heard the voice; she never thought she would ever hear again. She closed her eyes. 'Please let this nightmare end.' Okay Buffy don't turn around, keep your mouth closed, and use that slayer agility.

Alec pulled out his wallet, "Can I get another pitcher?" and was slightly distracted when a woman approached him from the side.

"Hey, stud, where you- been hiding?" Kelly, a regular who worked the bar like a personal escort service purred grasping his arm in a double meaning caress. Buffy didn't understand why these women acted like this didn't that have a smidgen of pride; Slobbering over some guy- just for a free drink.

Buffy rolled her eyes with a groan, gawd couldn't they do that where she didn't have to bear witness to this shit? Buffy just took the pitcher she had already filled and placed it in front of him without turning. Sometimes Slayer reflexes were the bomb.

Alec looked at the blonde, bar girl. He couldn't put his finger on it but there was something familiar about the blonde. She had a nice shape he could definitely admire, (If he could just get a look at her face?) Every time he tried, she would turn and have her back to him.

"Thanks. Do I know you?" Alec still had his eyes locked on the backside of the blonde. He turned his head to the side-taking note of every curve.

Buffy shrugged her shoulders without turning around. If he heard her voice, she was screwed. However, Max saved her at the last minute. She knew it was Max because she recognized her voice and she had also seen her sit with Alec at their table in section six.

"I gotta bounce, that was Logan." Max stated.

While he talked to Max, Buffy took the opportunity to drop back down behind the counter and crawl further down the side away from Alec. She was on her knees walking toward the other end.

Alec turned back around to find the mysterious blonde had once again disappeared. She was slick, whoever she was. His curiosity was peaked, but nothing that couldn't wait.

Buffy peeked over the counter to see Alec headed back to the table, pitcher in hand to his friends. She sighed and groaned while still on her knees. She didn't see Michael come back behind her. He observed her in bewilderment.

Michael crossed his arms observing Buffy crawl on her knees along the bar, "now whaddya doin'?"

Buffy jumped being caught off guard; she smiled and rolled out with. "Did you ever notice how uneven your counters are? You should really get that checked." Buffy took her hand to smooth over the counter as if to prove her point.

Michael shook his head. The girl was one of his hardest workers, not one to complain. She mostly worked days, but as pretty as she was; he finally convinced her that working nights would get her the money she needed to leave. She was jumpy as grasshopper on a hot tin roof. Maybe that's why she was so freaked about working at night.

"Uh huh… Just serve the drinks. Table 8 is still waiting." Michael almost laughed at the comical way she was acting. He had never seen her so nervous.

Thinking on her feet, she grabbed another tray and making sure to not let Alec see her, she went the long way and served her table. Being sure to smile lots and speaking low. The last thing she needed was to be recognized. She was not going back in a cell or to any other cage.

Sketchy had watched the blonde from the minute she was on the floor. He sat back in his chair and whistled. "I think I'm in love… that waitress needs to be the recipient of much love from me."

"You haven't even seen her face, Sketch." Alec laughed.

"But with a body like that, who cares? Did you see the size of her who-hahs? …Nice… very nice." Sketchy leaned back in his chair to get a better look at Buffy's nice round backside.

Alec chuckled softly at Sketchy. He was always on the make. But he couldn't shake the feeling that he knew the waitress from somewhere, if he could just get a peek at her face. So, he attempted one more time to get her attention.

"Excuse me… could I have a scotch on the rocks?"

She held the tray over her face with her eyes peeking out under her hair and shook her head yes.

"Show me your face and there could be an extra $20. 00 tip." He cajoled with smoothness.

Buffy shook her head from side to side rapidly no and then left quickly before Alec recognized her. When she made it back to the bar, she spotted Michael. "Would it be okay if I could take a break, I'm not feeling so hot." Her face was flushed and the fear across her face was almost pleading.

"Sure. Jackie can take over your section. Are you alright?" Michael really liked Buffy. She was a sweet kid. He looked at her concerned. She was as pale as a ghost.

"No. Not really. Old boyfriend, don't wanna face him. It ended badly." Buffy smiled internally at the excuse.

Michael scanned the crowd; "Where?" he liked Buffy the last thing he wanted was for someone to give her a hard time.

"Table six." Buffy pleaded for Michael to understand. Please have mercy she prayed inside.

"Messengers, huh?" Michael recognized the desperate look on her face and took pity. "I tell you what, go on home and you can come early tomorrow and make up the hours. Okay?"

"Thank you, thank you soooo much." Buffy let out the air, she didn't even realize she had been holding.

"No problem." Michael gave her smile, and told her he would let Jackie know she was sick.

Buffy took the opportunity to sneak out the back door, grab her hood, and pull it way over her head, so she was not recognized. Once outside she sighed in relief. She walked home, and kept her head down just in case someone else she knew spotted her. As she made her way home, realizing just now that no matter how hard she tried her past kept catching up to her.

**

Jackie: a buxom brunette who lived wild and free. She smiled at her luck. Anne going home sick allowed her an opportunity to play with the pretty boy she had her eye on her for some time.

These messengers from Jam Pony were usually good tippers. She didn't know why Anne went home but she was going to enjoy waiting on these guys. (Especially the cutie with the Adonis face)

"So what'll be?"

She returned immediately with their drinks, paying special attention to Alec. Alec was still caught up in his thoughts about the blonde. Who kept playing in his mind? She seemed so familiar. He couldn't get close enough to her before something happened and she would disappear. She was stirring a memory of something but what?

He motioned Jackie over and whispered to meet him around back. He was going to find out about the blonde one way or another. His charm could usually get him anything he wanted and his body was reacting strange to the mysterious blonde. Luring the waitress out back, he bartered himself to gain all the information he needed. "So beautiful… What happened to the other waitress?"

"Anne? She went home. Not feeling well." Jackie shrugged, if giving him information about Anne furthered her chances. What the hell? She would give him her work schedule if that's all it took.

"She seemed real shy?" Alec asked as he moved a stray hair out of the brunettes face.

"Yeah, she doesn't talk a whole lot. You're asking a lot about Anne. Should I be jealous?" Jackie leaned against the back alley; Alec flirted and worked the waitress into frenzy.

"No. I just thought I knew her." Alec leaned in and seduced the busty waitress.

"I get off in half an hour." Jackie batted her eyes, looking forward to her date.

Alec winked and Jackie walked away with an extra sway in her hips for his benefit. She came back in, looking flustered, and Alec came back looking pleased. This blonde would no longer be a mystery by tomorrow.

Chapter 10- Little Reminders

The blaring of the alarm woke Buffy from an exhausted sleep. She had hit the snooze so many times that she awoke late as usual. She sat up with her bed sheet tucked around her achy body. Her breasts were throbbing and her uterus felt full. She hadn't felt this bad since she had the super flu.

She ripped the sheet off her body and grimaced, the nausea sweeping through body as rampant as a tsunami. A creeping suspicion popped up in her mind but she fought it back down like the sour/bitter taste of salt permeating her mouth.

Buffy wanted to live in denial, she was hoping for any explanation other than the one she feared was true. Her breasts had been tender for over two weeks now; she had not had a period since leaving hell – but her periods in hell were varied and few, so she hoped that this was just another little effect of being there. Her mind however, knew without a shadow of a doubt what was wrong. The inability to eat before the clock struck noon was also a telltale sign along with her recent extreme nausea- Still she wanted to deny the reality, why not live in that for just a little while longer.

She also had to pee every five minutes. She couldn't even walk to a table to serve them without the strong desire to urinate. However, when she almost passed out one night, a woman named Original Cindy caught her and helped her to one of the chairs. If it hadn't been for OC, Buffy would have fallen head first into the patrons sitting at the bar.

Her boss and Cindy – who had apparently decided to make her a friend and took the job seriously – urged her to go to the doctor. Buffy had a fear of doctors in general. Also, her recent stay in Hotel Hell made her more than leery of anyone with sharp needles or any sharp instruments at their disposal.

However, Cindy was not one to be deterred. She threatened Buffy to either go or she was taking her. "You as nervy as my boo 'bout doctors." OC had laughed. Buffy hadn't asked who the woman's 'boo' was, seeing no need.

After much reluctance, she did finally go to the doctor, in hopes that maybe something else might be wrong with her. One could hope couldn't they?

The doctor ran the usual tests, along with a cervical exam. When he returned Buffy was still desperately clinging to her one last scrap of denial. When the doctor confirmed what she knew to be true, it took her at least ten minutes to answer him. She adamantly refused to believe him but her body knew from the morning sickness to the tender breasts.

After digesting this latest bout of news, Buffy was still reeling from the revelations. The doctor had fussed at her about being extremely underweight. He gave her prenatal pills, along with a stern warning to eat more. She had left the doctor's office –her mind in complete shock. Well not complete shock but he made her leave her denial bubble and it was really nice there. There were no crazy doctors, government conspiracies, or Watchers Council.

She wondered down to the docks, her mind full of questions that couldn't be answered. She had no doubt, as to who the father was. She couldn't even bring herself to utter his name. Not since, she left the Hilton of Hell. She tried hard to put everything behind her. She had not earned quite enough money to leave yet but as soon as she did- it was 'So Long Seattle' and Hello California particularly LA. Sunnydale might now be there, but she needed to be somewhere somewhat familiar and was tired of this freaking cold weather. Honestly, did they experience anything besides rainy and wet with an abundance of dreary?

Buffy had sat on one of the benches by the dock, and pulled her dark red sweater tighter around her shivering form. She was not sure if the weather or her latest avalanche of news was the cause.

She watched the gentle motions of the ocean lapping against the side of the dock. The shimmers of the sun bounced off the surface of the dark blue liquid.

Images of Alec filled her head, her eyes closed. She was not even aware of the tears. She fought hard against the melancholy as the tears slid down her face. In a moment of weakness, Buffy let the floodgates loose and her shoulders started to shake as she covered her face with her hands. The onslaught of tears took over.

She missed her mom, Willow, Xander and especially Giles. She wanted so desperately to find out what happened to them. But they could be anywhere. She learned at that place, that she had been gone for twenty-four years. Most likely, the people she left behind were either dead or did she even have the right to interfere in their lives? The people she once called friends.

She ran away to lose herself. Boy, did she ever lose herself. Hell was hard but this place… she didn't even know where to go and how to get there. She had talked to her boss and told him, she wanted to get to Los Angeles.

When she walked in the bar over six weeks ago, she just asked for water, some directions while she sipped her water, and had a seat on one of the stools. Michael apparently recognized a stray and asked her if she needed a job. She, of course, jumped at the chance to make money. He even helped her get a small apartment down the street; a reconverted apartment complex that was run by his girlfriend Jinni. The apartment was basic with very few possessions, a bed, table, and couch that the previous tenant had left.

Buffy was interrupted in her pity feast by a strong male voice. She looked up to a very attractive man. He was tall with spiky dirty blonde hair and glasses. But there was an odd whirring when he walked. "Are you okay?"

"No. Not really. I feel so lost." Buffy stammered embarrassed to be caught in a moment of weakness. She absently wiped the tears on her gloved hands.

"If its directions you need, perhaps I can help." The stranger smiled reassuringly.

"Trust me… no one can help." Buffy crossed her arms and shook her head vehemently.

The young gentleman stood in front of Buffy and looked down at the petite blonde with compassion. "Sometimes it helps to talk to someone."

"I don't have anyone to talk to… Everyone's gone." Buffy spoke with hopelessness she felt deep inside her.

"I'm told I'm a good listener."

She gave a watery laugh. "And now… I'm breaking down in front of a complete stranger… who probably thinks I'm a basket case…" Buffy wiped away the fresh tears with the back of her hand.

"Not at all, and the name's Logan, Logan Cale. Now we're no longer strangers." He held out his hand to Buffy with genuine kindness.

"Nice to meet you, Logan Cale- Buffy Summers..." Buffy accepted his hand with a simple handshake; a slight smile taking over her face.

Logan sat his bag beside him having a seat beside Buffy. He returned her gentle smile. "So, Buffy, what has you so upset?"

"I don't know. I – it's hard to explain… I've been trying to hide from my past and it seems that – well, I – no matter what I do… it, it keeps reaching out to bite me in the ass…, and then today I get the news…" Buffy stopped short, ashamed of her current condition. Buffy looked at Logan not sure if she should continue, but thinking, 'what the hell? Not like he is going to make an all point's bulletin to alert the community, Escaped Slayer Pregnant!' She swallowed the lump threatening to choke her. "I'm pregnant."

Logan looked surprised, but smiled and said, "Congratulations are in order and as for the other… I have a friend like that. She keeps trying to get away from her past and it keeps following her."

"Everything is so screwed up. I don't even know what to do. But your friend, how does she handle it? You know, everything?"

"She fights to keep her present intact and deals with things as they come."

"Does that work?"

"Not all the time but, she has friends, who are there for her when she needs them."

"Lucky her… I don't even have one friend who – who really knows me."

"That's not true." Logan smiled gently at her. "You made one friend today and give my congratulations to the father about your blessed event."

"He's not – he's gone, I don't know where he is, but – but he's not in the picture."

Logan then gave Buffy a sympathetic look, he pulled out his wallet and handed her a card. "Look, I have to be somewhere, but here's a card. If you ever need a friend or someone just to talk to… well, give me a call."

"Thank you." Buffy answered.

"It was my pleasure, Buffy Summers."

Buffy got off the bench, sliding Logan's card in the front pocket of her overalls. She began to walk back to her apartment. The man's words were a small comfort. But lately she would take comfort wherever she could get it.

She stopped off briefly at one of the stands to gather some food, looked like she was eating for more than one so she had to increase her food intake.

She made her way back to her humble apartment, going through each checkpoint until she was almost home.

Chapter 11- Another Surprise shows its face.

When Buffy returned to work the following day, Jackie was waiting to gauge her reaction on whether she liked the regular with whom she had had a late night rendezvous the last couple of nights. She didn't want a relationship, but he was fun to play with and if getting him a chance with Anne gave her another ride on the stallion, she was more than willing to share." Cutie from the other night was asking about you."

"Really ... Can't imagine why." She looked a Jackie with a mixture of fear and apprehension. "What? Did you tell him anything?"

"Not much. Just your name was Anne and he was real curious about you. Wanted to know when you starting working; whether you'd be working tonight?"

"Shit! Did he say he was coming back?" Panic crossed Buffy's face. She did not need the attention or aggravation regardless of what her body was telling her.

"No, but somebody who's that curious- is bound to show up. I think you got yourself an admirer."

Why couldn't he just leave her alone? She was keeping a low profile. She was not going out of her way to kill the demons; although they kept showing up wherever she went. Why did fate keep throwing loopholes at her? If she could just keep under the radar long enough to get enough money to get the hell out of this damn city…

"Anne? Anne? You okay?" Jackie asked when she noticed the blonde zone out.

"Yeah, Thanks for everything. I'm just gonna go and set up for tonight."

She went to the backroom and starting unpacking the alcohol for the night's patrons. She needed to keep busy. She was perplexed on what to do, she needed the money so couldn't really afford to skip work. She would just have to face up to Alec and just not give him a chance to talk to her.

So, she straightened her shoulders and decided she was not going to let anyone ruin her opportunity to get the hell out of Dodge. She was trying to hide from the Watchers Council and Manticore, and now she had to add Alec to the list.

"Not a problem, sugar."

**
Buffy felt the familiar tingle and she knew without turning around. She quickly looked in the direction of the door and spotted the ex-soldier entering the bar, part of Buffy wanted to climb under the counter and hide until closing but another part of her decided she would not give him the opportunity to talk to her other than taking his order. She could do this; she survived hell, what was one guy. 'Ok, Buffy smile lots, take the order then get the hell away as fast as you can.'

Trying to keep her eyes downcast in hopes that maybe, he would not recognize her she had even changed her look for the evening, unlike her usual ponytail or leaving her hair down, to cover part of her face- she wore two loose braids, "What would you like?" She leaned on her tray, trying to get through this as quickly as possible.

He'd been leaning down on the verge of tying his shoelace, when her voice startled him; he heard the soft, sweet voice that he still heard in his dreams. He looked up, and green eyes met his hazel. His mouth formed her name like a soft caress, 'Buffy?' His mouth fell open in surprise, his heart practically jumped into his throat. He turned his head to the side, his mind was stilling trying to grasp that she was in front of him and not just a dream. Examining the too thin face half hidden behind a set of wispy blonde braids… He determined the familiar curve of her breast beneath the blouse, it had been difficult to discern what the shape of her body looked like outside of fatigues. After all, he'd only ever seen her in military dress, and behind the wall of his hazel eyes, he grinned out of it. His hazel eyes locked with her green ones.

Buffy smiled slightly trying hard not to keep eye contact for the moment. "What would you like?" She repeated trying to focus on the task at hand.

Alec mouth opened but was interrupted by Sketchy, Original Cindy and Cece as they each requested their drinks, glancing at the sudden quiet of Alec, who was usually so full of himself that he was always entertaining them. Each requested their drinks. Buffy rapidly wrote them down, tried to keep her voice steady when inside her heart was beating faster. She gave a light smile, trying to avoid any type of confrontation. "And you?" Buffy chewed her lip nervously, hoping to take his order and then scatter immediately.

His eyes held confusion – he thought he was never going to see her again and here she was in the flesh; Looking even more beautiful than before. He still wanted her; he desperately wanted to touch her. Her skin had a glow, which seemed to surround her. "Scotch on the rocks." Alec said. She was doing her cute nervous act, chewing on her lip, her eyes darting anywhere but at him, the pencil tapping far too quickly against the order pad. Rat a tat tat. He thought, counting the pencil strokes, "And the special."

Buffy, He repeated her name in his head, the one word held so much meaning for Alec. Seeing her made his body react almost violently with lust. No wonder he had been feeling on edge, he must have sensed her before tonight.

Buffy just dotted the last request on her tab, turned and replied quickly, "Be right back with your order." Practically running from the table, her carefree smile hid the emotions that were churning inside her. Here was the man whose child she was carrying. But another part was shocked, she knew he would be here but facing him, brought way to many emotions to the surface.

Alec smirked as he watched her go, leaning forward on the table. "So what do you think Sketch?" He rolled his head to the side, looking at his friend; "Hottest girl you ever seen?"

"Nah man…" Sketchy said with a shake of his head. "Max be the foxiest lady at crash, but Blondie runs a close second." Sketchy looked sideways watching Buffy's retreating form, enjoying the way her hips swayed, until Original Cindy whacked him over the head.

"Don't you fools be talkin' that way about my girl?" She said, leaning back and crossing her arms. "Cause you loudmouths know she's too good for you right?"

Buffy returned to the table and placed everyone's drinks in front of them with a smile, she tried to maneuver so that Alec was not too close to her because the man sent her chill bumps just being in the same vicinity. "Ok guys – let me know if you need anything else and your food will be up shortly." She smiled nervously and turned when a patron behind her placed a friendly hand on her shoulder and asked her for a refill. Buffy turned slightly, "Be right with you."

Alec tracked her, watching her every move. When he watched another patron place a friendly hand on her shoulder. He couldn't hold back the growl; it caused his friends to look at him oddly. He put his lips to the rim of his glass and taking a long swig. Beer was one of the wonderful parts about escaping from Manticore. "You could sit down here and join us for a while." He said with a leer and grin in her direction.

Sketchy nodded with a grin. "Hey pretty lady; sit down right next to me."

"You've been working hard all night." Alec eyes flicked to Sketchy incredibly annoyed. He didn't need help wooing the ladies. "Have some fun; let your hair down..." He was about to say Buffy, but then bit back the word, reading the name on her tag. "Anne."

"Don' you chuckleheads know how to treat a lady?" Original Cindy snapped. "Anne, honey you go about you're work and pay no attention to this pair of fools." She looked the girl up and down. "You eatin' okay girl ... You lookin' a little skinny."

Buffy sighed in relief, thank god for Cindy or this would have been a disaster in the making. "I have a lot to do but Cindy if you want drop by the bar before you leave and I will let you know how my appointment went. Cause not really a time to get all explainy if you know what I mean."

Daniel one of Buffy's better tippers came up behind her and smiled, "Anne I'm in your section right." He smiled lavishly at her.

"Yeah, just have a seat and be right with ya." Buffy blew out a puff of air, 'Duty calls." And she turned to go suddenly to answer someone else who apparently wanted a refill.

"Yeah, I'll do that hun." Original Cindy called, as Buffy turned to go. "It's really too bad you ain't playin' for the home team." She called, more for the sake of Alec and Sketchy, then to Buffy as the other girl walked away. The faces of the two boys had gone slack, and she could just picture which gutter their brains were dragging through. "Here's a hint, it ain't the hetero." She smirked, patting the puffballs that served as her hair. "Because mmmhmm, Original Cindy'd treat a foxy mama like you right!"

Alec choked on his beer, and shot Cindy a dark look. "Hey." He began and then broke off, labeling Buffy as his girl would only lead to trouble in the short run and could call attention from Manticore in the long one. He wasn't quite reckless enough to put Buffy in that sort of danger, although he was the one participating in an amateur boxing ring as 'Monty Cora'.

Cece was busy watching the by-play and finding it so humorous; she was unable to even speak without spitting her beer on someone. She turned when Sketch made a comment.

"I didn't know you had a thing for the new waitress Cin." Sketchy mused, taking another swig of beer. "I thought skinny blondes weren't your type."

"Since when was skinny anything my type, fool?" Cindy said, swatting Sketchy's beanie. "I'm more a swinger for a fine sista, and believe me that girl is fiiiiiiiiiiiine." Cindy smiled. "Besides who says what's every man's type can't be Original Cindy's type too. I'm as partial to any fine piece of ass as the next man." She glared at Alec, who took an even longer swig of beer, swirling it around in his mouth like wine before he swallowed. It prevented him from spitting out a come back.

Buffy heard Cindy as she walked away and had to place a hand across her lips to keep from laughing. The lady definitely had her back and she was glad she could call Cindy friend. Buffy made her way back to Cindy's table to bring refills when one of the patrons, who she didn't get a chance to see, smacked her butt, if she wasn't trying to pretend to be a regular girl- their hand would be broken. 'Calm down Buffy' gonna be hard to explain how a regular girl could break a guys hand. Grin and bear it- you need the money anyway. Keep your cool; don't go all 'Slayer' on the assholes even if they deserve it. She turned slightly with a fake a smile and continued her journey. She sincerely hoped Michael was right about making more money at night. She made her way to Daniels table when he offered her a neck rub, since she was rolling her neck around to loosen her shoulders. He tipped really well so she gave her fake giggle and laughed it off like she usually did. Thank god, ten more minutes and she could take a break.

Alec had been watching Buffy out of the corner of his eye, and he was sure that his actions had not gone unnoticed by the great OC. However, he had her fooled, she thought he was just like every other hormone buzzed male in the joint out to get the dear sweet Anne into his bed. Well, okay, maybe he didn't have her fooled. But at least I'm more... Damn, he couldn't say noble. His eyes narrowed as he saw one of the ham handed patrons slap Buffy's butt after she'd delivered the drinks. (Time for pain) With the grace of a lynx, he slid to his feet, and Original Cindy caught his arm.

"You ain't foolish enough to be thinking of doin' what I think you're doin'?" She asked, as Alec jerked his arm out of her soft human grip. She wasn't strong enough to take him. "Cause a startin' a brawl ain't no way to impress a pretty girl, and I'd be all for teachin' that smug bottom feeder a lesson, but Original Cindy keeps her friends status in mind. What do you think'll happen to Anne if you go bustin' loose?"

"Hey." He said waving her off. "Who said I'd any intention of messin' with the guy? I was just going to get another round of beer, on Me."

"Ah-huh." Original Cindy said. "And how big of a fool do you think Original Cindy is?"

"Ah." Alec said, unsure of how to respond to that. "Whatever." He turned and wove his way through the tables leading towards the bar; his eyes were trained on the ham-handed jerk that'd touched what was his. Such a thing could not be tolerated, and a few steps before he reached the table with control created by years of training, Alec caused himself to trip and went tumbling into the jerk's table. Beer flew as the pitcher overturned and the table crashed into the floor, there were yells from the patrons as onlookers leaped back and the victims tumbled head over heels. Alec in a controlled fall landed directly on the offending hand, he heard the sweet sound of cracking bones beneath his knee as the patron screamed in pain. He stood, stepping back, the picture of innocence. "Sorry, sorry." He said waving his hands defensively in front of him, the image of the clumsy fool. "My bad, how bout I repay you for it? Beer for everyone."

Buffy turned at the commotion and couldn't quite see from her vantage point but it sounded like somebody had an accident. Great, she had a mess to clean up. "I'll go take care of it."

Michael shook his head, "You haven't had a break all night- one of the other girls can do it."

"Thanks." Buffy sat back down and continued to wait, patiently for her order.

Michael nodded to one of the other waitress to take care of it while
Buffy leaned against the bar, and closed her eyes for a few minutes. She was so tired, but she only had to serve Alec his food and refills to Cindy then it was break time.

Michael seemed to have taken a fatherly stance when it came to Buffy, so if she were late coming back from her break he wouldn't mind. She was going to have some food on this break, she hadn't eaten anything since late afternoon, and the baby inside her was making sure she knew he or she was hungry. She rolled her shoulders to release the tension and smiled when Michael gave her Alec's order. "I'm gonna take a food break after this that okay."

"Sure honey- what do ya want and I'll make sure its ready." He gave Buffy a gentle smile, and handed pitchers of beer out while chatting.

"Just make sure there's toast, my stomach is not loving food lately- other than that surprise me." Buffy smiled politely while holding her one shoulder. When they handed her Alec's plate she accepted and made her way back to Cindy's table with his food and another pitcher of beer. She sat everything down. "I'm taking a small break so if you need anything Jackie will take care of you okay." She gave Cindy a genuine smile, glanced at the others quickly, and set off back to the bar to sit and eat in peace. She had avoided Alec and got through the first part of the night. If she weren't pregnant, she would've chugged some alcohol to help with her nerves despite all the bad things that had happened to her when she did drink.

After his spill, Alec had pacified the offended patrons, collected two pitchers of beer from the bartender, and handed one to the ham-handed now broken-hand jerk (he took it with his good hand of course) and returned to his table in time for Buffy to serve him his food. "I don't think Jackie can satisfy all my needs!" He called after her, as she retreated into the back. He was whacked over the head once again by the Original Cindy. Million- dollar genetically enhanced killing machine defeated by one rogue lesbian sista... Score one to Original Cindy and a big goose egg for the Government.

"Boy, you have got to learn some better pick up lines." She said, with another shake of her head. Alec decided that it was getting to be a routine for them. Maybe it's the way she showed her love.

**

Jeez, Alec was being a complete pervert. She didn't know what his deal was. She could ignore him for the rest of the night. Shouldn't be that hard? Yeah right. Buffy sat at the bar while; Michael put a big plate of food in front of Buffy. She eyed him with a frown. "I'm only one person- I don't need this much."

"Well you haven't been eating that well- I can tell by looking at you, just sit here and eat and let me know when your done then you can go back to work." Michael replied clearing the empty steins in front of Buffy.

Buffy saluted, "Yes, daddy." She leaned on her hand and started to nibble on the toast while the bar bustled around her. She picked up her ginger ale and sipped while blocking out the surrounding sounds. The liquid soothed her stomach and helped make the toast more manageable in her mouth. Michael had also given her some chicken- hopefully she could choke that down. Still leaning on her hand, she played with the chicken on her fork. She brought a piece to her mouth and swallowed. She closed her eyes, 'Please, let me keep this down.' She waited a few minutes and it looked like she might actually get to keep food on her stomach tonight. Not that chicken was her favorite because she really wished she had some cheetos. 'Would it be weird to dip them in chocolate? Hmmmm that sounded scrumptious.

Alec had watched her have a seat at the bar, and gave a feeble excuse to Cindy. He stood back a few minutes to watch her and she was just as beautiful as he remembered. She had her eyes closed, and was absently pushing the food around her plate. He leaned on the bar beside her and motioned to the bartender for another pitcher. He smiled at her with a glint in his eye, "So Anne you think changing your name is gonna keep someone from finding you?" Alec continued to lean against the counter and accepted the pitcher while still waiting for a response from Buffy.

"Kept me safe for the last four weeks..." Buffy still idly pushed her food around.

"Is there somewhere we can go to talk? Private." Alec continued to lean on his arms, hoping Cindy didn't catch him. He would occasionally glance behind him to make sure; no one realized he already knew Buffy or Anne as she was trying to go by.

"Sorry- got work to do… Maybe later." Buffy shrugged her shoulders all the while keeping her eyes off his face.

He leaned into Buffy and whispered in her ear, "You still smell as sweet as I remember." He closed his eyes inhaling her unique scent. He had to fight the strong desire to bring her hair to his lips.

Buffy practically jumped out of her skin at his hot breath as it touched the shell of her ear. His voice was like a lovers caress. Not surprising since they had been intimate for almost over a month. Being this close to him again made her nervous as hell. Buffy replied, "Thanks, I shower everyday."

Alec not to be deterred continued with his silent perusal of her body. His passionate tone and words sent a shiver down her spine. He spoke into her hair while her back was still turned, "I miss the way you taste, the way your face contorts in pleasure when you're close to climax and the way it feels inside you…"

Buffy jumped up at the heated words that caused her spine to tingle and her skin to vibrate, "I-I have things to do."

Alec touched her hand lightly, "Got time to make me one of them?" rubbing the skin of her delicate fingers with a seductive smile.

Cindy had stealthily walked up behind Alec unknown to him and grabbed him by the ear, "Cindy don warned you about mess'in with her gurl."

Alec winced, "Ow-ow-ow. Jeez that hurts." He pulled away from the bar, giving her an irritated look, and rubbing his ear briskly.

Original Cindy just crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows, "Anne you go 'head take your break OC gonna handle this one."

Alec grimaced, "I was just asking her if she was enjoying her dinner until you rudely interrupted."

She continued to glare Alec down with her and 'I believe you why look'. "Look pretty boy, Anne ain't your type- go find one of your other flava's to drop some sweet talk on."

Alec licked the corner of his mouth unconsciously, "Oh- she's my type alright." He murmured under his breath.

Buffy after finishing her break, cleared her dishes and went to Michael to see about changing tables. She adored Original Cindy but Alec's leers and comments were getting worse, not better and she was at the precipice of meeting him out back; damn the consequences. She turned back to hear Michael's answer, her eyes wide with shock. "Wh-What?"

"No can do Buffy...the gentleman at table 7 paid me $200.00 dollars for you and you only to service that table. Think on the bright side you have only one table to work tonight." She turned back around to see Alec smile and wink her way. "He obviously likes you...just flirt back and when you leave tonight...I'll walk you home."

"That's not what I'm worried about." She murmured under her breath. "I'll be fine" She sighed heavily, 'okay Buffy- you can handle this-it's just tonight not like he can afford to corner you every night.

Manticore had trained him since birth to always take advantage of any given situation. To never, pass on an opportunity if it would help you achieve your goals; Right now, his goal was to remind Buffy she had a mate and that was a lifetime commitment. He didn't have his eyes on her directly at all times. But he was aware of her like no one else in the bar. He could track her by scent alone. When he went to the bar earlier he had paid to make sure that Buffy had to wait on his table and only his table. The two hundred dollars were well worth to keep an eye on his mate.

Buffy gave slight smiles to people as she slowly made her way back to Alec's table. "So you guys good, need any refills? Anything?" Buffy continued to stand there while the bar got louder with each hour. Her eyes shifted trying to keep aware of her surroundings. There was that and the fact it felt like Alec was undressing her with his eyes.

Cindy narrowed her eyes to make sure Alec kept his mouth shut, "What? I'm just drinking my beer." Alec continued to eye Buffy over the rim of his mug, his smile hidden along with the thoughts that were running rampant as a cat stalking its prey.

Cindy had noticed that Anne had pretty much taken up residence standing beside her," Not that OC minds sugah, but don you have other tables to wait on?"

Buffy, using her quick thinking, was not about to tell them that Alec had paid to have her wait on them, so she rang out with," Michael said to reward your patronage... That I'm supposed to wait on this table alone tonight and tonight only." Buffy stressed the word only to Alec with a stern glare.

"Why don't you have a seat Anne, since you're exclusively ours?" Alec smirked with a raised eyebrow.

Buffy attempted to sit in the furthest chair from Alec, tapping her feet, and holding on to the tray to keep her mind occupied. 'Take it easy; he doesn't know Buffy, only Cindy knows. She glanced up to notice Cindy was watching her and then glanced back to Alec as if trying to figure something out.

"You wish pretty boy." Cindy smacked her lips. "Sugah- you finally get some food inside ya?"

Alec piped up, "If not, I got something that wants to get inside you." He should have known it was coming but the whack from Cindy made him bounce forward. "Would you quit? You're gonna damage something."

"Behave or you gonna have a throw down with Original Cindy."

"Scaaaaaaary" Alec smirked.

"Boy you ain't seen scary 'till you messed with a mad black woman."

Alec looked back at Buffy and whistled, "I don't know, some things are worth the risk." His eyes gradually looked her up and down, his sexual intent clear. He moved knowing it was coming.

Original Cindy swatted his arm since he moved his head out of the way." You sure obsessed"

Buffy had gone to the bar to get their refills when Sketchy became curious as to Alec's sudden and strong interest in the blonde.

"Yeah what's so great about that Anne chick?" Sketchy rang out, suddenly curious why Alec seemed to be fixated on the new blonde chick more than his usual, proposition and get the girl, which also was weird. Because she seemed to be ignoring Alec and that was different in itself.

Cindy bopped her head in her usual manner, rolling her eyes with a snap of her tongue, "She too good for yo ass and you too Sketchy." She glared his way." So quit starin' and start dreamin', that's the advice you be gettin' from OC."

Sketchy laughed, "The Great OC."

"Damn Straight." Cindy just rolled with her head and brought her eyes back to Alec something was definitely up with pretty boy, he seemed to after Anne like a dog in heat.

Buffy arrived back at the table, leaning over Alec to place the drinks in front of them. Alec of course, took the opportunity to glance down her blouse. Buffy noticed immediately and blushed, a deep red, feeling her nipples pebble in response. 'Get a grip Buffy,' she chastised herself. Standing up too quickly, she knocked over the drink she had put on the table for Alec.

"Oh god, I... I'm sorry," she rushed out as she hurried to clean up the spill before it traveled off the edge of the table on to Alec's pants.

Alec stretched out his hand, brushing his arm along the edge of her breast as he reached to cover her hand with his own. Buffy gasped as a hot shock of excitement shot through her body and she glanced up to find his eyes smoldering as they stared into hers.

'Damn,' thought Buffy as she spoke to him, "Shoot, it's on your pants... I have something in the back to get out the stain... hang on and I'll fetch it."

"No worries, I'll just come back there with you," Alec replied as he stood... entirely too close to Buffy's body.

Buffy's breathing increased as she realized all her plans were shot to hell. She wanted him still. "This way," she choked out.

She led him towards the back of the bar, waiting until they were out of sight before turning to him. Alec didn't speak; he just grabbed her hand and carried on walking, this time he took the lead. He held on tightly to Buffy's hand as he made his way through the dingy staff backroom; the last thing he needed now he had gotten her to boiling point was for her to come to her senses and cool off.

Spotting the only private space in the place, he pulled Buffy sharply towards him, causing her to stumble right into his arms. Alec's response was immediate, his lips swooped down to capture hers, muffling the sharp cry from her mouth. He swung them around, pressing her against the rest room door with his body. Not great but it would have to do.

He broke away to give her some air, but his lips never lost contact with her silky skin as they began to glide down her neck... he knew what he was doing to her. She was grinding her hips in tiny circles against the hardness in his pants, uttering breathy sighs and whispers of his name.

His jacket hit the floor, pushed down his arms by her hurried motions. He lifted her into his arms, pressing her hard against the door and she wrapped her legs around his waist. In one smooth motion, Alec's hand found the door handle, sweeping them inside the tiny bathroom.

Buffy's head was spinning. Alec's kisses made her as hot as ever, she couldn't think. Her body was in firm control this time. Alec rubbed his covered erection against her wetness and she was lost all over again. She heard a pop and the sound of metal against metal as he lowered his zipper. Then his hands made their way to her blouse, ripping the buttons from their holes in his haste to get to her skin; His mouth nipping and sucking at her ear, her throat and finally meeting hers for another breathtaking kiss. As his tongue touched hers, alarm bells began to sound in Buffy's head.

His hands were on her hips now, fingers slipping under the elastic of her panties. Buffy broke the kiss.

"Alec... Wait!" Her voice was breathless and broken with passion. "I can't... I can't do this."

Buffy lowered her legs to the floor, smoothing down the skirt that had scrunched up around her waist.

She swallowed, turned, and ran out of the bathroom. Alec slammed his palms against the wall and zipped up his pants. He let out an animalistic growl in pure frustration then pulled back and punched the wall leaving a large hole in the sheetrock. 'So close.'

Damn, her perfume still called to him like a siren's song. He jerked the door open intent on following her. He had already waited too long to be joined again with his mate.

Buffy grabbed her purse and didn't stop until she was gulping in the cold, polluted air from the street. Her shift was over and she had been thrown with Alec most of the night. However, just because she got out tonight did not mean eventually she wasn't going to have to figure something out. She was not going to be able to avoid him forever.

Damn Alec, that man knew what he was doing but so did she. This would end badly; she had learned that much with Angel. She hi-tailed it out into the brisk night, pulling her jacket tighter to fight against the chill, his voice stopped her in her tracks. She closed her eyes in hopes that she was imagining it.

Calling out her name, Alec whispered, "Buffy." Noticing that she had stopped, but not turned around, he seized the opportunity. "What just happened back there?"

Buffy turned around coming face to face with Alec... Funny, he sounded further away when he had called out her name.

"I don't... I just wasn't quite ready to face you… so I figured if you didn't see me leave then you'd forget about me for another four weeks." Her determination to not let her feelings for this man get in the way made her snap.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Alec stated, not one to mince words.

Ignoring that statement for the time being she answered him, "You wanted to talk. So talk." Buffy pulled her arms tighter in attempt to protect herself. (Her baggy, hoody hiding her stomach) – Not that there was much to see yet. She couldn't stay out here too long. He might figure out what she was really hiding.

"Buffy, we can stand out here all night. But I don't think you want the world to hear about everything that happened between us." His eyes traveled the length of her body in understanding. A gentle smile touched his lips.

Buffy sighed in frustration, "What do you want from me? What could you possibly need to talk to me about? You've been fine so far without knowing my whereabouts." Buffy had shoved her hands in her deep pockets, trying to get away as soon as possible. If she thought he couldn't catch up with her, she would have started a full-scale run.

"Buffy, I didn't know where you were! I've been worried about you." He wanted to spill everything about how he had been cage fighting and saving money so he could go to California and search for her. How he almost killed him to leave her in the perimeter outside Manticore when he was supposed to follow Max and finish the termination of Eyes Only. He wanted to tell her that he had fallen in love with her but that was not to be.

Before their conversation could start properly, one of the bar's patrons came out the door and approached. She ran her long fingernails down Alec's covered arm.

"Did you forget we had a date, baby?" The busty blonde, with the voluptuous curves sultry voice rang out. "You didn't forget about little ole me, did you?" Gabrielle pouted with her full lips.

Buffy rolled her eyes and just let the sarcasm drip out venomously. "Yeah, I can see how worried you've been. Must have been touch and go there for a bit."

Buffy had been surprised to see Alec, but his face showed he was more surprised to see her. He had walked outside only to be followed by his latest little tramp panting after him. Damn, she really did know how to pick them.

Buffy shook her head in irritation and slapped on a fake smile, "No, he confused me with someone he was looking for. Obviously, he was wrong. So I'm just gonna go." Buffy informed the blonde. Before Alec said anything further, Buffy flipped up her hood and disappeared into the night. He obviously was just looking for another ride on the Buffy train and this time her train stopped for no one... not even the father of her baby.

Alec had definably had enough, the entire night his body screaming for release from the one woman who could stir his blood just with just a shy look from those expressive eyes. She thought she could avoid him, 'Oh Buffy' you have no idea how far I would follow you- to the ends of the earth if that were what it took.

Chapter 12 Follow you…

Buffy walked leisurely back to her apartment. The silent walk did nothing to ease the knots in her stomach of coming face to face with Alec. He obviously had moved on, she had a feeling he was just after sex, and then his vapid whore showed up out of nowhere confirmed it. She took a deep breath; she was anxiously looking forward to when she could leave this town behind and find at least one of her friends. They couldn't all have passed away, could they? She stopped in her tracks. She didn't hear anything but a light breathing but she was being stalked. She could feel it.

"It's late. I'm tired. Show yourself." She raised her head without turning around. She turned in the direction of the sound. She was in a bad mood and very ready to put the smack down on whatever was following her. She turned sharply, nothing was there, but she still felt like she was being stalked. Trying another tactic, she decided to taunt her would-be stalker.
"Yanno, if I have to chase you, I'm going to get real cranky. So, come out like a good little demon and play with Buffy. 'Cause I have a serious date with a fluffy pillow."

She scanned the area once more. Her fighting stance - held. Satisfied that whatever it was decided it wasn't a good night to die. She shrugged, pulling her coat closer; damn this cold was getting to her. Checking her mailbox, she prepared to enter her door when She felt her would be predator. She stepped back into the shadows in the entranceway of her building.

Buffy waited, and then grabbed a tall figure, whipping the body around to face her. Then she stepped back, surprised. It was the tall, young-looking scraggly guy from the bar who had been sitting with Alec.

"Okay. You're not a demon? So why you following me?" Buffy waited for a response. When she was met with silence, she applied pressure to the man's arm and twisted it around his back.

"You know, I can break your arm, but I'm feeling generous. Now answer me and I won't hurt you...much."

The guy met her face with a look of awe and pain, but his lack of answering her was wearing her patience thin. She smiled and flipped him forcing him to a sitting position on the ground.

"Look, I am having a real bad day… wanna make it better?" She grinned savagely and started to apply more pressure to his arm.

Sketchy suddenly found his voice; this chick was hot and was hurting him. "Ow-wwww! Al-Alec told me if I followed you and found out where you lived – he-he would pay me fifty bucks! Owwww – God, please don't hurt me?" Sketchy's arm bent at an odd angle and behind his back.

"Okay and you are?" Buffy raised an eyebrow, lessening her grip, but letting the guy know she meant business.

"Sketchy. Gawd, you're strong! How did you learn to move like that? Do you know Max? Y'know, I totally dig strong chicks. Wanna take me home and have your way with me?" Buffy smirked but let the man go, so Alec was having people follow her, not smart. Did he learn nothing from all the people's ass she kicked when they had class together? "Or not… but, God, you're hot." Sketchy looked to Buffy with amazement, the woman was not only beautiful, she was stronger than Max seemed to be.

"So he offered to pay you to follow me." Buffy let out the air she had been holding and then smiled. "Well-how about I let you go and don't hurt you and then you just skedaddle on home?"

"B-but… Alec will hurt me." Sketchy retorted with slight fear.

"What do you think I'm gonna do?" Sarcasm dripped from her mouth, and she crossed her arms.

Sketchy knew at this point it was time to let it go and cut his losses, he knew where the girl lived now, he would collect in the morning, and all would be well. But somewhere deep in Sketch's mind was that little bit of gall that always got him in trouble, "Alright, but could I get something for my trouble?"

Buffy smiled cockily "Okay." She held back most of her strength and cold-cocked Sketchy in his eye. He was lucky she wasn't in the mood to send a message to Alec.

**
Sketchy made his way to work, late as usual. His entire face hurt the black around his eye very prominent. He hated showing up to work with a black eye, but he needed the money. As soon as he spotted Alec and Max, he held up his hand and walked in the other direction. Alec was the last person he wanted to see, because he was indirectly the cause for his altercation.

"Well, well, well. Look who decided to come in today?" Normal patronized while looking at his watch. "You reprobates could at least be on time."

"Sketch, we were starting to think you got lost." Biggs chuckled.

Sketchy had just snorted and began to ready for his runs. Sketchy was trying desperately to avoid Alec, but he did not want to be rude, he had to have some explanation. "I wish. I followed that girl like Alec asked and she decked me… and it hurt… It's like she knew I was there… she was like waiting for me in the shadows. She's SCARY – scarier than you, Cindy – and that's saying something." Sketchy turned to Cindy, unable to hold back his aggravation.

"Might have to keep her on speed dial, what's her name?" Cindy retorted as she tied the scarf around her head ready for her runs for the day.

"That Buffy chick." Sketchy painfully spilled from his lips.

Max, having overheard the conversation, wanted to know more. Since Buffy helped her, she wanted to make sure the girl wasn't in any trouble. "Buffy? What about her?" Max asked.

"Our boy Alec had Sketchy trail her and she went Rambo on his ass and gave him a shiner." Cindy laughed.

"Ouch." Max observed, amused. "But it's your own fault, fool."

"Bip bip, people, time is money!" Normal chivied, handing out packages. When he got to Sketchy, he looked at his black eye with a frown.

"Ran into a door…" Sketchy chuckled nervously.

Normal shrugged and accepted his explanation without fanfare. Alec noticed Sketchy on his way out, and ran to catch up with him. The first thing he saw was the black eye. He winced at the shiner he was sporting. "What happened to your face, have another run in with the steelheads?"

"Don't even talk to me, man, that girl is dangerous! She told me if-if I ever follow her again, she would remove my balls – via my nose." Sketchy stood beside his bike irritated at his friend.

"What did you say to Buffy?" Alec suddenly was curious as to what Sketchy could've said to his girl to have her pissed.

Sketchy looked mildly uncomfortable, not really, wanting to tell Alec, he offered her sex and she cold-cocked him. "Nothing… I swear."

"Are you sure that's everything sketchy?" Alec asked him having the sneaking suspicion the messenger was not telling him everything.

"Well it might, I don't know. You know she almost broke my arm that girl. And the phrases she had were very colorful." Sketchy replied.

"So did you see where she lived?" Trying to get the information, he wanted Alec prodded further. He wanted this information, had even considered following her himself but If he had followed her last night, she was obviously irritated with him for some reason and he knew she would have given him more than a black eye. But trying to pull the information out of Sketchy was starting to wear even him a little thin.

Sketchy held out in hand rubbing the fingers together. Alec sighed dramatically and reached into his very full wallet, pulling out a fifty and handing it to Sketchy.

"Ok, like I said, the girl is crazy. And she's strong. She must work out a lot." Sketch's eyes grew big at a lot.

Alec sighed inwardly and pulled out some more cash from his jacket. "Ok, here. Buy yourself some weights or something," he said a little annoyed that he had to lose any more of his money. With the bill from last night and all his scams, he was either going to have to work up some more scams or spend his money more carefully. He supposed could always hustle his money out of Sketchy later at pool or something, or try to make Max pay for his drinks.

Then Sketchy continued on as if he was offering some great prize, "Of course I still offered her some and that seemed to piss her off even more. You think she's Max's long lost sister if they looked anything alike." Sketchy told him. She lives over on the corner of 7100 42nd Ave S (corner of Livingston), second floor apartment from what I can tell."

Alec felt the rage build up inside of him. Sketchy had tried to go for his woman. A small part of him was satisfied Buffy had rejected him, but still he should have known better then to hit on his mate.

Just as Alec started to open his mouth Normal's voice cut through the air "What are you doing moron!" I thought I told you to deliver that to 120 Euclid Street. You think you can come in late and take you time in delivering packages. Bib bip bip!" Sketchy hurried off.

Normal watched him go and shook his head, "moron" he muttered, and then turned to his Golden boy, the gladiator dream of the previous night still fresh in his mind "You take you time." Normal gave Alec a leering smile.

Alec looked at Normal sensing the look the man gave him he quickly said, "That's ok boss. I should get this delivered." he held up a package and hurried off with his bike.

All the other Jam Pony workers went out to deliver the packages for the day. Alec went by Livingston and Third to scope and see if he saw Buffy around.

He did not have to wait long, when the woman of his dreams was making her way up the street. Her long golden tresses, although held up in a makeshift ponytail, still gleamed in the sun's rays. Dressed in a pair of loose fitting jean overalls and white undershirt, she still held an almost ethereal glow. She was trying to hide, that was obvious. Of course, the last time he actually got to see her, she was dressed in fatigues. Seeing her still took his breath away. She seemed to be trying to keep her head down as to not draw attention to herself. She had a faraway look in her eyes, so she didn't even notice him slip in her shadow.

Waiting till she entered the building. He followed close behind, but not enough so that she could feel him. He walked up the stairs; he knew which way she had gone. Her scent was still strong and made his loins tighten with remembrance of their time together. Not that the average person could smell her but to him, she had a unique smell. She smelled of sunshine and vanilla with a slight trace of him. She was still carrying his scent after all this time. It meant she had not been intimate with anyone and he planned on it staying that way.

Bingo, he now knew exactly where she lived. He had to fight the urge to climb the steps and go knock on her door. But he held back. He would approach her when she wasn't expecting it then would make her talk to him and find out why she was avoiding him. Alec slipped from the shadows of her building to finish his job for the day. 'That's right Buffy; we are going to talk one way or another.' Damn but she still looked good.

Chapter 13-Please Keep me Busy…

Buffy ambled along slowly- she needed a distraction. She carried her stake in her hand, and walked along the back-alleys of Seattle. There were demons, but not nearly as many as Sunnydale. But this was no Hell mouth and it was frickin' freezin' most of the time. So she imagined most of the demons preferred a warmer climate. Not that she could blame them.

She had some serious pent up aggression so she had decided since she had the night off. Maybe some beastie would show up and she could give it the smack down.

There were so many questions in her head. None of which she knew the answers to. At least now, she knew where the mood swings were coming from. As if fate heard her, five vampires step out of the alley way and Buffy just went automatically to her fight stance. She leveled them like dominoes. She flipped the wooden stake from her hand and staked all five vampires in quick succession. She turned blinking when she heard a soft rustling of leather and clapping.

Spike was amazed, here she was again, and she did not look even a day older than the last time he saw her. He clapped loudly and exited the shadows. He threw his cigarette on the ground in front of her.

"Gotta say 'm impressed, not many bints could've taken out five vampires in," he held up his watch to look, "twenty seconds, but then you were always special."

"Spike?" Buffy was not expecting to see the bleached blonde in this neck of the woods.

"Yeah, it's me. Heard talk there was a powerful Slayer showed up in Seattle… Had to come see for m'self."

Buffy took her hands and waved Spike to her, the sarcastic vamp really should have avoided her this time. "That's just another day on the job. Wanna step up for a little overtime?"

"Last time I saw you it was all battle till the death with Peaches. Heard say that ended badly, but Peaches is tucked away and here you all looking not much older… and a fella's gotta ask himself. How's that possible?" Spike closed his eyes and sniffed the air, with a wide arc of his neck. "Not vampire. Not quite sure what you are, but no matter." He shrugged. "Pretty powerful blokes got a bounty on your head."

"Are you done? Or can we fight now?" Buffy splayed her hands to Spike with irritation laced in her voice.

"Love to… Can't… Hafta bring you back all in one piece or no bounty." Spike sighed deeply at the admission and his disappointment obvious.

Buffy clicked her tongue, her sarcasm evident "You think I'm just gonna go with you? All quiet like…"

"No." Spike regretfully said. "But then that's why you're so interesting…"

Spike took a flying leap and had Buffy pinned to the ground, with her hands clasped above her head. He inhaled deeply at her neck, as Buffy struggled to remove the Vampire. "I've always wondered what it would be like to do a Slayer." He nuzzled her neck. With his distraction, she took the opportunity to slam her knee into his groin.

Buffy flipped up on her feet, as she tried to shake off the disgust of Spike's admission. "If you ever touch me again –"

Spike leaned against the ground on his knees, slowly working his way to stand before the Slayer. "Come now, it's all the talk. I did wonder about who was able to get between those dimpled knees of yours. Angelus bragged that you weren't worth a second go. But obviously, someone at Manticore did knocked you up good and proper. Now question is: does 494 know he's gonna be a daddy?"

"How –?" … Buffy could not even get the words out. How did Spike know she was pregnant? She was not the far along and even with superpowers the heartbeat could not be heard.

"Who do you think sent me to collect you?" Spike finally had recovered enough to stand before Buffy. He watched her intently for any sudden moves. Her silence gave him a chance to bait her, and Spike, being he, was not going to waste the opportunity. "Manticore, The Watchers Council, You name it. They all want a piece of you. But Sandeman has dibs on you. You are, after all, carrying his line of progeny."

Buffy's face displayed a myriad of emotions. None of this made sense, how could all these people know she was pregnant. She had only found out a couple of days ago. "Who told you this?"

"Meirs but, then I would have known anyway. You reek of the boy. What would Angel say?" Spike tutted with a click of his tongue. "Rebecca of Sunny hell farms done gone and screwed a soldier…"

"Angel is dead and has been for a long time. Like you said it was a battle to the death." Buffy said with sadness in her voice.

Spike grinned this was just too delicious. The chit had no idea. "Then you really have been away. Angel showed back up about fifteen years ago to help fight some hell-god and got nabbed by the same people that did me in. 'The Initiative' – well, they don't call 'emselves that anymore, ever since Manticore took over. Don't feel bad. He hasn't been lonely. They captured that Cordelia chick and they been lovers ever since." Spike grinned able to impart some pain. He was after all still evil.

Buffy shook her head in denial, "You are lying to me. That's not possible. I don't believe you."

"Doesn't matter… Besides what would I gain from lying when the truth stings that much sweeter?"

"You're evil-…Helloooo?" Buffy spat.

"Ok… Got me there but s'truth…Take it or leave it?" Spike shrugged his shoulders in annoyance. Spike snarked once more before he turned with a swirl of leather. "Gotta go, pet, but don't worry, I'll be back." He disappeared within seconds, leaving Buffy with a confused look on her face.

Buffy's stake fell to the ground with a clatter, and dropped to her knees. She tried to hold back the tears, but they were too close to the surface. She broke down with the revelation that he was actually telling her the truth.

**

Buffy had finally gathered herself enough to try to make it back to the safe haven of her apartment. When she felt someone behind her, thinking Spike might be back, she held the stake ready to attack.

This time however, an older man, who looked to be around 6o years old in a long gray trench coat. His coat only covered part of his tweed ensemble. "Miss Summers. It's imperative I speak with you."

Buffy observed the man in silence, A British accent, and great. This day seemed to be old home week for her.

"I'm from the –" The man stepped forward the streetlight only showing part of his features.

Buffy raised an eyebrow and then shook her head in disbelief. These bastards did not want to give it up; she had already escaped from this once. "Watcher's Council." Buffy cut him off. "I should have known you guys were lurking about somewhere."

"You are in grave danger. At this very moment, two teams have been dispatched along with a deadly vampire to collect you."

"Already had a run in with Spike, so save the melodrama for someone else." Buffy turned to walk away; she had officially had her fill of this crap.

"Please, Miss Summers – Buffy. We don't have a lot of time." The man made one last attempt to plead with the young Slayer.

Buffy threw her hands up in the air in exasperation. "Okay, I'll bite. What do you want to warn me about?" She dropped her arms to her sides. At least there was only one this time.

"The child you're carrying is –"

Buffy could not believe her ears. 'How the hell did everyone know?' "Was there like a billboard? 'Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, got knocked up'? Is it too much to ask to give me time to get used to the idea?" Buffy spat with hands on her hips.

"The Council willingly gave you to Manticore to become a breeder." He cut her off. "They used you to create a hybrid."

"What?" Buffy's anger was building at the statement and started to get pissed in a big way.

"Manticore and the Watchers' Council cooperated and used drugs to induce an artificial state of heightened fertility and arousal – basically mimicking the estrous cycles their females go through – and caused you to procreate with one of their soldiers."

"That's not possible."

"Buffy, they drugged you." Off her look of disbelief, the man continued. He just needed her to understand the gravity of the situation she was now immersed. "Buffy, 494 was never drugged. He was following orders. He doesn't care about you. You were his mission."

"NO! You're wrong." Buffy backed away; she was not going to listen to this.

"494 is a master of manipulation, he does this kind of thing all the time. There was a girl about a year ago before you showed up. Her name was Rachel. He used her to get to her father. He posed as her piano teacher –"

"I don't want to hear this. We are not discussing this." Buffy blinked in outrage.

"Yes, we bloody well are!" The man was angry, but he just needed her to know what she was up against.

"Fine! Tell me how he used me. How I was just another – We're bloody well discussing this! Tell me!"

"Buffy that is this soldier's modus operandi. He is a trained assassin. He feels nothing for no one. You were a mission, nothing more. His job was to get you pregnant. He never fails in his missions."

"How can you say this to me?"

He spat with disgust, "Because of my respect for Giles. I cannot – I will not allow you used by this – this thing. He's not even fully human. Something a lab created. He is no more human than a vampire."

"Well, good to know at least I'm consistent. If he's not human, what is he? Huh? Tell me?"

As the unknown man, began to relay to Buffy all the specifics of X5-494, and Manticore's quest for the perfect soldier. Her face held the confusion that was slowly building inside her. Buffy was torn – she wanted to believe this was all a lie. But the information this man had, the details were overwhelming.

"Who are you supposed to be? Since when does the Watchers' Council want to help?"

"My name is Archibald Lassiter. I worked under Giles briefly before he became your Watcher. He was a brilliant man. It was a blow when he passed."

Buffy outraged, asked, "Giles is dead. HOW?... When!"

"I know this is difficult to hear. You've been gone for some time. Giles died of very natural causes and his wife, your mother, was a lovely woman."

"You knew my mother?" Buffy's face saddened at the news, but she was holding on to the last bit of hope. However, when the man brought up her mother, it took all her strength to not break down in tears.

"Joyce Summers-Giles. After you disappearance, their searching for you brought them closer. They married in 2001."

She asked hopefully, "Is she still –…?"

"I'm afraid not. She passed two years before Rupert."

Buffy turned from the watcher. Her face fell at the revelation of her mother. All gone… Giles, Angel, her mother. She held a hand to her mouth to hold back the sob. When she finally spoke, it was barely above a whisper.

"So… Everyone is gone and I'm still here. Alone." She abruptly turned to face the man, "Is that it? Is there more? 'Cause I don't think, I could handle anymore. So why don't you just leave me alone. You gave me the 411." Buffy wrapped her arms around her body to control the shaking that threatened to overtake her. She prepared to storm off, and she had the strong desire to be alone.

Archibald called out one last time, before Buffy left his peripheral vision.

"They will use anyone close to you to control you, you must –"

Buffy whipped around, her face a mask of pain, but held back by years of being in hell. "What? Surely, your report told you how well, I take orders. I can take care of myself."

Archibald felt bad for the Slayer. There were several others, who did not agree with the way Travers had handled the whole Slayer reappearance. He was included in that minority. "Just be careful."

"Aren't I always?" Buffy turned and left the alley with a determination. Things were getting just a little too hairy. She needed to get out of Seattle before someone else from her past showed up. Her main goal now was to head to familiar stomping grounds.

Very little light reflected off the bleak oppressive stoned walls. A light buzzing from the florescent lights, footfalls echoed down the silent cement hall. Single steps are heard approaching the cell that was a few feet away from a long hallway full of cell doors. An older distinguished man with graying hair, he was attractive with a weathered face; stared outside the thick bars on his prison door. A uniformed sentry approached the cell with a smirk, "looks like one of your kids is gonna be a daddy?

"What do you want?" Lydecker spat gripping the steel pipes of his bars on his newest cage, Confusion evident on his face.

"Just thought I would give you an update...since well your not going anywhere?" The sentry snorted.

"I may be stuck in this cage but, you have underestimated my kids so far-and they have been one step ahead of you-every time." Lydecker boasted with pride.

"True, they are much brighter than we anticipated...but then the whole idea of Manticore was to breed a better soldier."

"You're not gaining anything by keeping me here."

"No, Huh- you don't want to know about the future generation?" The sentry prepared to walk away. He so loved toying with Lydecker.

Lydecker's raspy voice rang out," Those kids are the best of the best...you can't improve upon perfection."

" X5-494 has been crossbred with a slayer."

"A Slayer?" Lydecker chortled absently "Those things don't exist-that's a made up bedtime story just to make the ordinaries feel safe at night." Lydecker spurted with agitation.

"That's where you would be wrong...Slayers do exist...one is pregnant right now with your kid's baby."

"I don't believe you..." the man grabbed the bars on the door and grimaced.

"Believe what you will...you'll be meeting the slayer as soon as we capture her. She's an elusive little thing. Who knows maybe we can catch 494 again and let you visit with one of your kids."? The man walked away slowly stopping once more a few feet away. "By the Way, Big Man will be by to see you tonight so be on your best behavior." The sentry left leaving Lydecker to process the newest information.

**

Buffy laid her head down on the soft pillow, her mind relaxing after the last couple days of excitement. She was finally able to relax and started to drift into unconsciousness. She felt warm sunshine on her back and the waves could be heard in the distance; Crashing softly upon the sands while seagulls hovered above. Her eyes fluttered open of their own accord as she scanned the beach, somehow touching something deep in her memory but she couldn't remember where. In the distance walking along the shore, was a figure she couldn't quite make out. She sat up; resting on her elbows and the figure came closer. The single word said as a whisper escaped her lips.
"Angel?" Buffy looked confused for a moment, "How did you find me?"

Angel stood in the waves of the ocean and smiled deeply. He approached slowly until he was right upon Buffy, holding out his hand in invitation. Although hesitant Buffy accepted the proffered hand as he pulled her to her feet.

Buffy's eyes enlarged unable to believe that Angel was standing in her room. Her trembling fingers wanted to touch him to make sure he was real, "h-h-how?"

He gently caressed her face as the tears started to glide down her moist cheeks. She closed her eyes and felt his fingertips brush her hair from her face

Angel gave a lopsided grin," Even if I was blind. I'd find you."

"This has got to be a dream...I was told you were evil." Buffy shook her head sternly from side to side. He reached down, tilted her head up, and brushed his soft lips against hers with tenderness.
"Does this feel like I'm evil?"

Buffy pulled away suddenly and pushed Angel away from her with a slight shove of her hands. "Angel this isn't right. This cant be… real."

"Don't think-just feel." He bent his head to the side and attempted to kiss Buffy again but she moved out of his outstretched hands.

Her frown deepened, "You don't understand- I'm pregnant and I think I might be in love with the father."

"Sh-hhh, that doesn't matter." Angel stared at Buffy longingly. "He'll betray you. They always do." His face changed to a smirk, "Love," He said the word with a sardonic laugh. "Buffy, Buffy, Buffy have you learned nothing? You will always kill the ones you love." He raised his hand in an attempt to caress her again.

Buffy backed away and she could feel the adrenaline start to pump in her system. "What did you say?"

"You killed me- remember?" Angel stood in front of her and blood started to seep through his silk shirt. Buffy stood back horrified as the images of Angel being run through with her sword. He started to laugh evilly as his skin blackened and fell as ash in the wind. Buffy started to cry uncontrollably and his final words echoed in her mind. "See you soon Buff."

Buffy awoke trembling and her cheeks stained with tears. She sat up in bed to spy the clock, which read 3:15 am. 'Great, just what I need another prophetic dream.'

Chapter 14 Business Economics

Light chatter echoed in the wood paneled room, a large group of men in business suits filed eagerly into the lush conference room, a side table with snacks and various other amenities sat to the side of the large rectangular surface. Several sophisticated gentlemen who nodded as each man was seated at an oblong table, a projection screen in the back and a man in his mid Fifties although if one were to look at him - he didn't look a day over 30. He cleared his voice and waited for someone to enter.

An attractive blond in a pink Malibu Barbie business suit stepped into the room with a stack of folders. The man in the front of the room just nodded and proceeded to hand to all the men seated at the table. She nodded.

"Thank you Harmony."

She replied bubbly and gave a tiny wave before exiting, "Your Welcome Mr. Macdonald."

Lindsey cleared his throat, "Gentlemen if you'll open your file I've supplied you with and turn to page one, I've outlined the specifics of the intentions of the Senior Partners. As you know, we took a big loss on our Seattle Washington Manticore Base. Luckily our Gillette as well as our other three bases were not hit and still are up and running."

A startling handsome young man, with deep-set azure eyes and a chiseled physique, which had recently joined the firm, raised his hand, "I have a few questions."

"Certainly..." Lindsey glanced at his list, "Nick, go ahead."

"Do we know what happened at the Manticore base in Seattle? I know that I'm coming in a little late but what if any specifics did they find that lead to its destruction."

"There is a background of possible scenarios in my office, remind me after the meeting to let you take a look at the Pre-destruction demo."

Nick nodded in approval, as Lindsey asked if there were any other questions.

Various people stood and asked basic questions like about rebuilding. Thirty minutes later after the question and answer session. Lindsey cleared his voice and asked if there were any more questions before they continued. "There is however another problem that has recently been brought to my attention." Lindsey continued, "If you turn to page 5, I've listed the biggest threat we have at this time. We currently have a bonified slayer in Seattle Washington running around.

The room ricocheted with the raising of various voices and pandemonium that was threatening to be raised. Lindsey held up his hands to calm the room, "We are no stranger to the Watchers Council, and normally one slayer in one place is not something we would concern ourselves with. However this particular slayer is pregnant with a hybrid of soldier/slayer."

"That is preposterous." One man yelled out, while another spoke loudly criticizing the idiocy of whoever allowed such a thing to happen. The voices were reaching a crescendo when Lindsey raised his voice to be heard.

"Gentlemen, please if you'll calm down- I've already found a solution to this problem. While we would love to get our hands on said slayer, I have an idea that will bring her to us. As outlined in the attached addendum high lights 'the Slayer: Project.' The said slayer has a vulnerable point. We plan on exploiting that… To give you first hand information on her familiarity on this project." A knock at the door is heard and a slim blond enters, and Lindsey waves her in and introduced her to the other men. "Most of you are acquainted with Madame X and she will guide you through the rest of the information on the project."

Madame X stood before the men or most of the individuals could be considered men. "Gentleman," She nodded to Lindsey. "While someone has removed and all records of the slayer. I do have a contact that has provided us with important information."

The men start opening the files in front of them, shuffling of papers echo in the room. "Her name is Buffy Summers, and she is a slayer. She is currently by all calculations in her second trimester. Successful copulation with X5-494 resulted in possible multiple gestations… While there have been no confirmed sightings… We believe 494 also alive & well. However -If he is alive and with the slayer- he is going to make apprehension difficult. As her pregnancy progresses, her will become more protective and violent to any perceived harm to the slayer." The cropped blonde headed lady scanned the room, "We also suspect that 494 marked the slayer as his mate. Two days before confirmation of pregnancy. 494 exhibited a strong attachment to the slayer unit. We want no harm to come to 494, he belongs to Sandeman and want him returned in tact, - do I make myself clear gentlemen. While the slayer is also desired, we are willing to compromise by letting us have the children and you keep the slayer. We will even allow her to be impregnated again by 494."

When Renfro left the office, she smirked to herself. While the lawyers firm were busy tracking down the slayer that would take heat off 452, who she herself was trying to find. Protecting 452 was her top priority. She may owe W&H for bringing her back. Her first allegiance was to the Sandeman.

**

Secured location Carson City, Nevada: Manticore Base #3.

The quiet filled the halls like calm before the storm. A lone sentry walked down the halls, his footfalls entering the last hall in the basement. Most of the sentries guarding the base tending to avoid this area like the plague but the lone sentry approached as if on a mission. The footfalls came to a sudden stop, the number clearly printed above the door in loud white numbers; 729.

The man stopped, his eyes glazed as if in a deep trance. A woman in Victorian dress approached with a nice bounce of her ringlets framing her pale but pretty face. "Sorry kitten, I don't need you anymore." A familiar voice rang out followed by the sentry, the sweet-song voice stood behind the sentry, tracing the outline of his neck and whispered in his ear and he used his key card to open the door, the dark form stood before the door, after slicing the sentry's throat with a quick flick of her long fingernail. The tall dark figure stood from the bunk, "It's about time… do you know how long I've been waiting?"

The childlike voice rang out, "Hello- Daddy- Now we can be a family again."

Angel approached stealthily, he looked to the guard on the floor outside his cell, "Dru, you didn't even save me some." He smirked openly and took Drusilla's hand helping her over the dead form lying on the glossy floor. The walked slowly to the outside dodging all the soldiers, by the time the soldiers realized what had happened they would be well on their way out of this place and in search of the slayer. Spike said she was back before he had been sent to retrieve her. Drusilla and Angel left happily following the special laid out escape route that had been secured by an accomplice beforehand. Both giggled as they headed out into darkness.

**

The warehouse was brimming with supernatural creatures, vampires, demons with blue, green skin, and any type of creature known to the underworld. The dull roar suddenly stopped when a bleached blond in a long leather coat stepped to the center of the room. His command of respect obvious, just with a look a hush fell over the crowd. His scar twitched by some of the characters. If one were not to know better, it looked like a comic con groupie event of deep space nine.

Spike walked in front of the small group of vampires and other demons that he had enlisted to help him. "OK, here to reclaim a slayer, this is a capture not a kill, fail and I kill you myself… hurt her and the same goes. Sandeman wants her all in one piece, keep that in mind." Spike threw the cigarette to the floor, its embers burning slowly out; "Any questions?"

There was a bravalian Demon who rasped, bravalians were not known for their mercy or comprehension of simple instruction let alone orders. "Wat if we want to kill her?" Spike calmly walked over to the blue demon and snapped his neck and his body fell to the floor as the others stepped back from the display. "That answer the question, you bleedin wankers bring back my slayer alive or else." All the creatures shook their head in understanding, Spike's calm facade in just killing the demon out in the open, accomplished two things, get rid of the dead weight and an example of betrayal. The demons all filed out into the tunnels waiting for the opportunity to capture said slayer, the bounty would be well worth keeping her alive.

**

Buffy's avoidance of Alec was taking her toll, ever since two days ago. When he first spotted her, he had taken every opportunity to try to bed her and so far, she had been strong and been able to avoid him most times of course with Cindy's' help, Cindy was starting to get a little suspicious and asked Buffy if she knew Alec. Buffy of course denied ever seeing him before he showed up the night with her and her friends. Cindy didn't look that she was buying it but she didn't press it and Buffy was thankful for that. Luckily, today she worked during the day so didn't have to worry about running into the aggravating man. Besides, the women who came in lots of times would comment on how good in bed he was and were curious as to why Buffy didn't seem to be interested. She would smile and say he wasn't her type, that her type of guy was the brooding and dark haired poet. Better, start building the groundwork for when her pregnancy became noticeable. Then she could make up a guy who she had a thing with and he disappeared leaving her pregnant. Which is kind of or as close to the truth as she was going to admit?

She had even considered getting rid of the baby, but knowing it was growing inside her and was a part of her nipped that in the bud, and the mom missage she was experiencing daily was also a contributing factor. Regardless of the circumstances, this child was hers and therefore- she already had a growing love for it. When she questioned the doctor about the possibilities. He informed her that most people who did that were underhanded and she would be either ripped off or killed. Thus, even thinking about it was completely out of the question.

She had befriended Logan Cale, a very interesting man, who could easily run circles around most people she met in the brains department. Her affection for him was only of the brother variety so there was no interest on either part for that but she told him she couldn't believe he was single. He was like a prime catch as a bachelor, rich, smart, kind, caring, and cute as a button to boot. (Especially in the today's market of schemers, players and all around thieves)

Chapter 15- Inferno Dreams

*WARNING* High levels of Smut- Read at your own risk…and do not read near open flame.

The sounds of the shower running sounded roughly like pennies on a tin roof. The spray of the water sent a warm mist surrounding the closed off area. He needed his mate. His desire had been almost impossible to control. He approached her like a jungle cat.

"Please," Buffy gasped as she felt the hands barely skim across her bare skin. The whole day had been too much. The constant throbbing between her legs as her drug-induced heat teased her, she was about to lose her mind. She just wanted it to end. "Please... hurry," she pleaded, resigned to her fate, but wanting to get this over with before another walked in on them.

Buffy's submissive demeanor shocked him when she gently pushed her ass back against his hands. Maybe Buffy was finally accepting him as her mate. Pulling himself closer to her, Alec gently kicked her legs further apart before letting his cock slide up and down Buffy's pussy lips, coating himself with her juices.

Buffy bit her lip as his cock teased her, rubbing against her moistness but refusing to enter her. She groaned as she arched her hips, giving him better access to her but he still held out seemingly, content to tease her some more. Buffy had had enough; reaching back, she grasped his cock. His body went rigid with surprise but before he could react, Buffy thrust her hips back plunging his cock deep inside of her.

"Unnghh," they both moaned in unison as Buffy's warmth surrounded him. Finally, Buffy thought as she felt his cock fill her. Alec quickly recovered from his shock.

Buffy yelped as Alec returned her thrust, ramming him deep into her pushing her body closer to the wall. "Auuuugh," Buffy groaned in pleasure as he didn't let up and holding her hips tightly as he punished her body by pounding his cock deep into her cunt. Her body was rocked with every thrust she couldn't hold back the gasps of pleasure as she was roughly taken from behind. With the constant teasing all morning, it didn't take Buffy long to reach her peak. Reaching between where their bodies were joined Buffy pushed against Alec enveloping his shaft in her throbbing clit.

"Yesss." Buffy growled as she came, her body trembling as after hours of torture she finally found release. Alec groaned as he felt her spasm around him but he didn't relent as he continued to roughly fuck her as she gasped in pleasure, her climax coursing through her body.

Buffy groaned softly hanging her head in contentment as her orgasm slowly washed over her. Her breathing heavy she leaned against the wall for support. Alec's pace had slowed, his rough pummeling thrusts turning into a leisurely stroke as he slid himself in and out of Buffy and reaching around her, he held her backside close as his throbbing erection began to empty inside her slick channel. His face dropped to the curve of her shoulder gently nuzzling his mark as Buffy's walls continued to pulsate.

Still hard Alec pulled out of Buffy's dripping pussy. He pulled on her shoulders turning her around before pushing her down onto her knees. Still reeling from her orgasm Buffy put up little fight as she dropped to her knees. Her lips parted slightly, her tongue sneaking out just between them, she knew what he wanted, and she was too exhausted to fight.

Grabbing himself Alec pushed his cock against Buffy's pouty lips. Without hesitation, her lips parted, and she took him inside of her warm wet mouth. She moaned, as she tasted herself on him, with her tongue, she lazily licked all of her own juices off of his cock.

Alec held back the groan as Buffy expertly began bobbing her head up and down, swallowing his cock. Alec's body shook as he came; his dick throbbed as he shot his load down Buffy's throat. Her lips sealed around his shaft, moaning as she felt his warm cum slide down her throat as she swallowed all Alec had to give.

Finished, Alec pulled himself back into his pants. He looked down at Buffy as she knelt on the floor, her breathing heavy. Even with most of her face covered with the spray of the shower the conflict, raging inside of her was easy to see. Alec ignored the emotions he felt seeing Buffy that way, and quickly made his way out of the room.

**

With a loud gasp, Buffy awoke to the loud sirens outside her window and the sheets sticking to her sweat drenched body. She blinked her eyes trying to focus on the soft white walls of her tiny room/apartment. Where the hell did that dream come from? Slowly pulled herself out of her small bed, where the fan she almost kept on constantly blew warm air over her already sensitive skin; she had heard of the hormones that caused some women when pregnant to be in a constant state of arousal…but really wasn't it enough that she was a slayer. Alone, in a strange New World and now to top it off her hormones were roughly hitting 140 on the Fahrenheit scale. She blew out a breath hoping for today to maybe bring a little rain since Seattle had such an abundance of the precipitation and cold. Another thought hit her over stimulated brain….Also it was getting harder and harder to put on her clueless face to Original Cindy. She kept denying that Alec and she knew each other and that they had only met the night at Crash but something in Cindy's eyes gave her an indication that maybe that story was beginning to be less and less believable. She absently pulled the bag of potato chips out of her cupboard. The chips being one of the few luxuries she had been able to find and afford thus far…She stood at the counter munching on them –receiving a slight twinge in her abdomen letting her know the child (ren) growing inside were not pleased with the sustenance and sought more to appease their developing needs.

Chapter 16 – The past revisits

The dark stained wood covered the entire room, its black sterile cement floor bare with the exception of the symbol that covered the majority of its surface. The chanting began as a loud hum as the three robed creatures stood before the symbol. While two other hooded figures walked counter clockwise behind swinging their thuribles; canisters that filled the room with a smoke like mist.

In the center of said symbol a large wooden crate, blood red glyphs painted on each side, without warning the chanting stops and the room silent as the earth started to shake and all over Los Angeles an unexpected earthquake shook the foundations of the buildings everywhere.

After twenty minutes, the shaking ceased and the crate began to spin as a loud whirr filled the room. It spun faster and faster until it stopped and all the figures blew out their candle at the same time. A booming screech extinguished the room in total darkness as the man stood amongst the crate, nothing left but splinters of wood. His kind blue eyes filled with darkness as another well-dressed man, in a tailored Armani, stood before him. "Welcome, we've been waiting for you." He snapped his fingers to one of his assistants that stood behind him and the man bowed before the other man at the crate and offered him a robe to cover his naked form. The Texan began to speak again as the man followed Lindsey up the stone steps as the figures one after another disappeared into thin air. 'I'm Lindsey Macdonald and I will be bringing you up to speed once you've rested and are ready." Lindsey gave his deep Texan smile; the slayer was not going to know what hit her. He began to walk away as several assistants guided the man to one of the rooms down the long corridor. Lindsey made his up to the upper levels of Wolfram and Hart and his cell began to ring, He glanced at the caller ID and flipped it open, "Fenos tol, Brother White, I think you will be very happy with our progress."

Chapter 17- the Truth or Something Like it

Cindy had been watching Alec and Anne interact for the last week or so, and it was becoming clearer and clearer. There was no way these two didn't know each other and there was the fact Alec seemed to be fixated on Anne to the point of ignoring all other prospects. Which was very out of character for Alec? Every time he spotted her, his entire face would light up like a Christmas tree. He would find every excuse to touch her in anyway even if it was only a light touch on her hand.

There was some serious vibing between the two and it was time for somebody to come clean. Since pretty boy could usually keep a secret like nobody's business. Her best bet would be to talk to Anne. But first, she was going to ask her Boo about it. Cindy had cornered Max early one morning and wanted the low down so she could finally figure out what the hell was going on between those two.

OC told Max how she knew Buffy and they had met by accident one day, when Buffy was lost and asked her for directions. Max relayed her story of how she knew her and the shock that came across Cindy's face was total surprise. Cindy was slowly putting the pieces together in her head. She was not going to out Buffy, but things were starting to make a little too much sense. There were just a few more pieces missing from the puzzle. She remembered their conversation vividly.

Flashback…

"So she's not like you but she was in the same lock up. Damn. That place some whacked out shit. Don't explain why Alec is acting so freaky about her?"

"They were breeding partners." Max conveyed with softness.

"So were you that still don't…" It suddenly dawned on OC. "OHH. You mean they really were." Cindy closed her mouth at that point. If Buffy was Anne and she was in lockup with pretty boy. Then the baby that Buffy/Anne was carrying was none other than Alec's. She was not going to break the news that Alec was the baby's daddy. She was just going to encourage Buffy to be honest with him.

"Yeah and he won't talk about it but I think there was a lot more to it."

End Flashback…

Cindy had an exhausting day; it had started at the crack of dawn. Between her bike runs, her boo moping over Logan and Alec had been snapping at people all freaking daylong. He kept up with his attitude and he was going to loose his title of golden boy from Normal and that man worshipped the ground he walked on. Cindy was just tired of all the drama.

Max had asked her what was wrong; she was just tired of keeping secrets. Max's secret was a whole different ball game. But Buffy, it made no sense not to tell Alec. She considered both of them her friends and she was going to convince Buffy to be honest with pretty boy.

Original Cindy had tried to keep out of the whole thing involving Buffy and Alec. She had kept Buffy's secret and she had no intention of outing her but this thing had gone on long enough. Her boo mooning over Logan and Now Alec acting like he wanted nothing to do with Buffy- all the while chasing away any man that so much as sniffed her perfume. It was working her last nerve. Maybe she could convince Buffy to talk to Alec despite his asinine behavior. She came in earlier than the others- heck she didn't even know if they would show up. (Being they, both wanted to play this stupid game) Max trying to keep a tight lid on the other transgens and Alec brooding was really wearing her thin. She approached the bar and asked Michael if Buffy was working tonight and he told her she was. Just in the back bringing out more cartons.

Buffy came out of the back, her face completely glowing- yeah soon it wouldn't be secret no more. Her breasts had already doubled, that was obvious from the tightness of her shirts. Cindy had a seat at one of the tables and waved Buffy over. "You got a hot minute to dish with Cindy."

"Sure just let me tell Michael- I'm gonna take a little break." Buffy walked back to the table and sat down. She noticed Cindy's serious face and asked, "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"

"Yanno – OC got your back -Sugar- I promised to keep the info on the dl. But-sooner or later, pretty boy and boo gonna figure it out. They got that super sonic hearing thing going on, but that's between you and him. OC won't tell, but she won't lie. So better hope he doesn't ask the right question."

"How did you know?"

"Sugar it don't take no genius, you and pretty boy got some serious vibe coming from each other. Cindy leaned back in her chair. "That and the fact you were in lockdown with him pretty much makes him the likely candidate for the baby daddy."

"Are you going to tell him?" Buffy gave a feeble smile.

"Nuh and uh-The man got a right to know from the momma."

"I could just send him a note via delivery." Buffy grinned with a batting of lashes.

"Not so fast- sugah- OC knows when somebody trying to pull a fast one and that ain't gonna cut it- you need to go see the man tonight"

Buffy rolled her eyes and gave Cindy a half smile, "Fine."

At this point, Sketchy had traipsed into Crash with Cece and Biggs in tow. Buffy winced; Sketchy was still sporting the black eye she gave him and it shined in the fluorescent lights. She smiled with pity, and placed a friendly hand on Sketch's shoulder. "Sorry...I didn't mean to hit you that hard."

Cindy just snorted, "That's okay, he'll do somethin' in the future to deserve it- you got Original Cindy's word on that."

When Buffy had finished for the day, she decided to take Cindy's advice, and go to Alec's and come clean. She was not sure how to word everything but she knew it was the right thing to do.

**
Buffy walked along the street deep in thought. A lot of what Cindy had said had struck a chord in her. She knew that it was time to do the right thing. Besides, what if she needed help? What if something happened to her? What would happen to her child?

Buffy had decided to tell Alec about the pregnancy after much prodding from Original Cindy. She really didn't want to and was scared. She also took notice that he had been avoiding her a lot lately. Her apprehension was a mixture of things. One part fear of what he would say, technically he had no real say in what happened. Another hurt to think she was just a mission, if that was the case, what was stopping him from giving her Back to Manticore for safe passage for himself. He really didn't owe her anything. Then another part that is more prominent was her heart. She had feelings for the guy; true it could be just the chemicals they were pumping into her on a daily basis. But the last man, she opened her heart to, crushed it. Angel, the name brought so much pain and confusion to the surface; as much confusion as the handsome, yet hornier than hell soldier. She knocked on the door of the place he was staying and with slight trepidation. When he opened the door, she blurted out without too much thought, "I need to talk to you about something...it's important."

The recent loss of Rachel and the part he played in her death plagued him, and even though he'd begun to suspect he was in love with Buffy from their first meeting, he couldn't admit it to himself. Now if he were to become involved with her, all he could offer her was more danger. He loved Rachel and ended up being the cause of her death. He couldn't bear Buffy sharing the same fate.

Through being captured by White, he'd discovered the man's unhealthy interest in Buffy, perhaps even more so than Max. He'd questioned Alec extensively about both women, and while he didn't want to turn Max in, if it came down to it, he knew would betray Max before he would Buffy. He loved her.

And now she'd finally cornered him, telling him it was important. Whatever her news was, it paled in comparison to what was trying to burst out of his chest. He had to get it out before he saw those eyes, eyes that a man could get lost in, and he'd lose his will to keep her away from him.

Alec turned to look out the window of his apartment. He couldn't do this while looking at her, but he would to keep her safe. It was the most he could do for her, at least at this point. Never mind his body wanted to run over there and have her and tell her he was scared and the feelings she was stirring in him, was one of the most fearsome feelings- he had ever experienced. No, he pushed those feelings back down. He didn't love her and he would not allow her to be another one of his casualties.

Buffy nervously fidgeted with her hands, "Alec, there's something I need to say –" Buffy was interrupted by Alec. His voice was laced with anger and as though she was wasting his time. His voice cold, he turned to face her and allowed nothing to show on his face of the internal battle.

"Buffy, I want you to stay away from me." His voice calm and his face void of any emotion, even though beneath the surface, his feelings were raging like a hurricane. He turned back to the window to avoid looking at her, years of practice at Manticore kept his countenance smooth.

Buffy spoke softly, her voice confused, "I don't understand. I thought…" Her small stature seemed to shrink even more. Her face held confusion and pain. Why was he doing this to her? She was trying to tell him he was going to be a father. The deafening silence of the room added to the confusion, Buffy was feeling. Her weak smile slowly turned into a frown and her eyebrows knitted together trying to figure out what he was exactly telling her.

Alec had turned around only briefly to make sure she was listening and immediately turned his back and began to stare at the window, although he saw nothing out of it. Alec whipped around to face Buffy. He needed her to leave before he broke his resolve to stay away from her. He'd already been captured once and barely escaped with the information intact. He didn't want to give them a second chance to get a hold of her.

His cold and callous voice rang out, and he stood looking at her with pure hate. "I want you to stay away from me, and never come around me again. You disgust me. The sex was good, but it's over."

Buffy's shaky voice rang out, "Is it me? Was I-I not good? I just thought that you..." Somehow how this was feeling vaguely familiar.

Alec interrupted once again, "You thought wrong. I want your absence. Given enough time you shouldn't have a problem forgetting." Alec had turned back around, afraid that if she could see his eyes, the pain in them would give him away, the jig would be up, and she would know that he loved her. But he had to do this – the only way to protect her was to keep her away from him. "I know I won't." He stayed looking out the window his hands clasped behind his back.

Buffy swallowed and her eyes blinked in hurt and outrage, it was a mistake. She knew that now, this was just another Angel repeat minus the demon. She stated, "You unimaginable bastard." She turned to leave, not wanting this asshole to see her cry. "I guess I'll just go and start forgetting." She walked out the door and it slammed with a finality that would forever echo in Alec's mind.

If she saw his face, she would have seen the tears that had started to glide down cheeks. He refused to wipe them away. He deserved to hurt for putting her through this. He grabbed his jacket off the kitchen chair and walked out his door, and slammed it behind him. He needed to go bury his feelings and alcohol would help. He didn't go to Crash. No. It was too much of a risk to see her. He grabbed his helmet and bike. He needed to just maybe drive and forget. He had told her to leave and start forgetting and he needed to do the same. He was going to take these feelings and mash them down so they no longer held him captive.

**

She left Alec's apartment the tears had dried considerably and they had ended with a hiccup. She needed a good distraction and her prayers were answered when she heard scuffles and a clattering down the next alley. She swiftly began to track the sound and came around the corner. She instantly recognized the half-wolf or dog man. What was his name? John? Joe? Josh? Joshua that was it, three vampires were attacking him. She forward flipped and brought their attention to her, fortunately leaving the beaten Joshua on the ground.

"Here I was thinking there would be nothing to take my aggression out on, and you guys show up. This is just so convenient." Buffy motioned to the vampires with a reckless grin. "Come on, rush me, it'll be fun."

The first vampire made a leap and she caught him with her stake mid-air. The second, she flicked her wrist and stabbed him in the chest before he had time to make a move, and the final vampire she kicked and staked with deadly accuracy. She walked over to Joshua, and bent to offer her hand.

"It's okay, they're gone now."

Joshua was pulling his hood over his face desperately trying to keep Buffy from seeing it. He stumbled to his feet, trying to keep his face hidden from view. "It's alright. I'm not going to hurt you." She spoke in a gentle voice.

Finally, he smiled and accepted her hand. He concentrated on her face and sniffed the air, "You not afraid of Joshua?"

"Nah, I only kill monsters." Buffy smiled at Joshua when he was standing next to her. She scanned the area, looking for any more demons waiting to ambush them.

"Some say Joshua monster?" Joshua stood towering over the tiny slayer brushing his pants from vampire dust off. He was pleasantly surprised to have another person who seemed to have no fear of him.

"Trust me I'm an expert, your no demon." Buffy chuckled and she noticed the bag lying on the ground. "Do you live around here?"

She bent to help with his supplies and helped put his things back in the brown sack. Joshua suddenly winced and Buffy stood on her tiptoes to see where his hand was holding and she sucked in a breath at the chunk of flesh; the fledglings had torn from his neck. It wasn't too deep but it needed to be disinfected.

She walked beside Joshua and they arrived safely to his home; a two-story house in what was once probably considered a very prominent neighborhood. It looked like the pulse had pretty much destroyed most of the other buildings without leaving much intact.

On arrival at the house, she bade the dog-man to have a seat while she rummaged through his things and found a first aid kit under the counter with some other basic supplies in the kitchen. Old but what she needed was still usable. She cleaned his neck with smooth strokes and a gentleness one might reserve for a child. When she finished, she bandaged his neck with the same gentleness.

Buffy scolded, "So, Joshua, you want to tell me what you were doing out there by yourself?"

"Needed supplies and couldn't wait for Li'l Fella."

She smiled at his childlike innocence. "Just next time, wear a cross or take some holy water. It's the only way to kill those guys."

Joshua continued to sit and stare at Buffy with wonder. Buffy just crossed her arms and took in the surroundings of the place. (A little messy but otherwise clean) Her eye line was drawn to the paintings that stood on an easel in the far corner. The paintings were very good- they reminded her of Picasso or Monet. Her mother would be proud to know she remembered some things from all her art conversations that Buffy usually had tuned out. "Did you paint all these?" She waved towards the display of canvas paintings around the room. She was especially drawn to the one she spotted in the corner. Its swirls of colors reminded her of an explosion but seemed to tug something in her- like a gentle caress of a lover.

"It's what I do… Since can't go out during the day." He bashfully explained.

"You're another Pablo Picasso in the making." Buffy returned to glance down at Joshua with a sweet smile

"No Picasso- just Joshua." His face changed excitedly and stood, "You took down X-7s with righteous moves… those bitches went down." Joshua made a fist to smash into the other hand to display to Buffy what he remembered.

Buffy laughed and gave the man a genuine warm smile. "I wasn't sure if you'd remember me or not."

"You not afraid of Joshua's face, Joshua not like other people. Why I have to hide People afraid of what's different."

"Well, I'm not like other people either. So, you got a little doggie in you. My best friend in high school, her boyfriend was a werewolf. So what's a little canine compared to that?" Buffy shrugged.

Joshua sniffed the air again, looked at her face, and then traveled down to her abdomen. "You have little Alecs inside you?"

Buffy face registered shock and she started to blush. It had been seven-weeks since she had been intimate with the soldier, but maybe whatever cocktail they used to create this guy gave him supersonic smell. She was not expecting that, so she cleared her voice. "Joshua I kinda, want to keep that a secret; because if the wrong people found out, it would be bad." She was about to confide that the father had sent her away less than two hours ago and told her that he would have no trouble forgetting about her.

"Joshua won't tell, secret between Joshua and tiny fella."

Joshua was so excited at having company. He showed her his books and proudly entertained her on several subjects, which surprisingly were very vast. She outright laughed at some of his impressions of people. Soon it was time for Buffy to head out; she was half-tempted to just accept his offer of sleeping on the couch. But she knew that Alec or Max might come by and she really couldn't afford for either of them to see her. She left with promises of visiting as long as Joshua kept her secret. Buffy realized there were many layers to this half-dog man. One being how insightful he was, it was so easy to talk to him. Buffy stepped off the porch to head back to her small apartment.

**

Buffy sat quietly on her worn couch. Her mind was still reeling from all the events of the last week. Not only did she find out she was going to be a mother. But the father wanted nothing to do with her point in fact 'Told her to stay away'. She had already cried herself to sleep for the last three nights. She was bound and determined for tonight not to be a repeat. She was slowly drifting off to sleep, with her blanket wrapped securely around her.

A swirl of purple smoke shimmered in the darkness of the little apartment. A figure began to take shape. Buffy automatically went into a fighting stance but was in shock when the smoke cleared. Her face was a mask of confusion.

"Willow?"

The redhead stood before her friend, neither really knowing what to do. Willow finally caved and walked over to Buffy. She gave her a warm smile and hug. "Long time no see. How ya been?"

Buffy replied," Stuck in hell… You?"

"Vengeance demon." Willow shrugged, her leather encased body shifted and she walked to sit beside Buffy.

Buffy turned and just stared at her long friend." All that aside- you know it's kinda nice to see a familiar face." Buffy smiled, "Not that I'm not happy to see you but, what's the what?"

"Actually, I'm here to help you. I was sent by a friend."

Buffy quirked an eyebrow at her longtime friend, "Who?"

"Jonathan, he is my most loyal follower. Every year, he holds special banquets in my honor. So, the little guy's got a little soft place in my heart. Anyway, he told me Manticore was planning on pimping you out to one its soldiers to get you pregnant. That really pissed me off and then you have a cult that is looking for you as we speak. I was thinking no way am I gonna let that happen. So here I am."

"You know how I'm pregnant." Buffy fidgeted not quite sure what to do with her hands and finally looked to Willows kind eyes.

"You say the word and the father is history, literally."

"He doesn't want anything to do with me." Buffy held up her hand to stop Willow. She could see the storm brewing in her eyes. "It's okay though and doesn't know about the baby, probably for the best anyway."

Willow raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms. "You change your mind, just let me know and his suffering will be biblical."

"No, thank you though- wouldn't want you to break any vengeance rules." Buffy mused on that for a second before turning back to Willow.

"I have D'Hoffryn in the palm of my hand. He would give me anything."

"So, vengeance demon? How's that working out for ya?" Buffy slightly stumbled, "how'd it happen?"

Willow smiled deeply as the memories came pouring over her. Her explanation was a lot more in depth than Buffy could have imagined. Xander and Willow started to date after the whole Oz fiasco.

Buffy asked surprised, "You dated Xander?"

"Yeah after Oz left. I kinda went a little psycho and did a will be done spell. D'Hoffryn approached me. He was so impressed he offered me a job but I didn't take it at first. Then Xander and I started dating. We only went out for a couple of months. I caught him in bed with Anya, an ex-demon. I went a little crazy, tried to destroy the world. I couldn't kill Xander though. I let him go but D'Hoffryn starting wooing me with trinkets, dinners in Paris and other treats. Little by little I was seduced to what I could do- so the rest is history."

"So what happened to Oz? Xander? You didn't?"

"No. Xander and Anya got married. They had a couple of kids and got killed in the pulse."

"And Oz?"

"He married Verruca, the she-werewolf. He was cheating on me with and had puppies a couple of years later."

"Puppies?"

"Yeah, he acted like a dog. I kinda turned him and Verruca into dogs." Willow turned guiltily to Buffy, but I found them good homes so it wasn't a total loss."

"WOW! Just doesn't sum it up"

Willow waited patiently as Buffy explained how she got caught in the hell dimension. She explained about Chanterelle, the other workers, and then being stuck in the wasteland for so long. She only gave bits and pieces of Manticore. She felt somewhat ashamed at the whole situation. She then finished by telling how she had to kill Angel and why she ran in the first place. Then she asked Willow if What Spike said was true about Angel. Part of her, wanted it to be true and the other part did not. She was torn emotionally and not all of it was the pregnancy hormone.

Willow then broke the news to her long time friend. Angel was in deed alive and well. However, he was not the same person that he was a long time ago.

"Angel is alive, in captivity but alive."

Buffy stood abruptly, "We need go rescue him. He doesn't deserve that."

Willow held up a hand to stop Buffy and prevent her from going on a senseless mission." Angel is not the same person you knew. He's not..."

Buffy searched Willow's eyes, "Willow, what are you not telling me?"

"Angel is no longer a good guy..."

"Neither are you, technically."

"Hey, I don't go looking for trouble. I just help the scorned and loveless. Besides, this isn't about me. Angel has merged with Angelus and Buffy if he found out you were alive, you do remember how it was? Don't you?"

Buffy downcast her eyes, "Spike was telling me the truth."

Willow looked at her watch, and glanced back to Buffy. "I have some work over in Japan for a couple of hours. Some microchip manager is banging his secretary and his wife found out. That should be interesting. But I can check on you tomorrow if you like?" Willow left with promises of checking on her friend and vanished with a swirl of purple smoke

**

Buffy had tucked her legs underneath her, listening to the soft patters of the rain as it struck her window. The rains hypnotizing rhythm almost were lulling her into a daydream. One where the most difficult decision was to order strawberry or chocolate, At least the weather in Seattle was constant dreary- perfect setting for her depressing life.

She had seen him last night- once again with his flavor of the moment draped over his body like a blanket. He had told her she was acting like a whore. Well what about Alec the man-whore. Logan was currently investigating a way to get her to California. Where she would not stand out and may even blend in and be able to raise her baby in peace. Demons she could deal with- crazy psycho-cult members and Manticore loonies were just too much to deal with. She wasn't about to admit to herself her main reason for even wanting to leave was a certain soldier- who she vowed to never speak his name. And whose sole existence she had cursed but refused to wish anything bad to happen to. Willow had offered to make his penis fall off- and all Buffy had to do was wish it- but she couldn't bring herself to hurt him. Despite his innate need to hurt her. Besides, it was all moot- as soon as Logan gave her the green light- she was so out of this perpetual sea of love and loss.

Buffy stretched her body, reaching above her. Luckily, she had tonight off and was looking forward to a lazy day of not having to see Alec with his latest tramp. She couldn't believe how quickly, – he got over her. Maybe she was somehow cursed and men after sleeping with her turned into assholes. She didn't have long to dwell on that when her phone rang and she almost didn't answer it in fears it was Michael wanting her to come to work today. She tried not to move too quickly, or the baby let her know, in no uncertain terms that he or she was awake too. Her nausea had lessened but not by much. She flipped open the phone to hear the slurring and crying of a very drunk Logan. Buffy asked, "Logan? Is that you?"

His answer more than confirmed that he was way more than a little drunk. She told him to hang in there and she would be over immediately. He had become like a surrogate brother and confidant all rolled into one. He was also one of two people who knew who secret; the one that was going to get harder hiding in a month or so. She had met him right after the news she was going to be a mom and had been very supportive during the whole thing. She had of course left out the fact she was pregnant with; what people commonly refer to as a mutants and/or a transgenic love child.

Buffy had walked slowly over to Logan's penthouse. She made her way up and knocked lightly on the door. The door opened slowly and the first thing she noticed was the state of Logan's penthouse. She cast her eyes slowly around the room. It was dirty and it reeked (something that Logan normally would never allowed to happen) this was serious. If Logan was neglecting his house and calling her stinking drunk, there was definitely something up.

She spotted him slumped over his computer and he looked up. "Max?"

"No sorry, just Buffy." She walked to look into his face. "Is that what this is about?" Buffy cast her eyes around the room before gently focusing back on Logan. A frown creased her face. "Lets get you sitting in an upright position and I will make the coffee. Where's your kitchen?"

Logan just groaned and Buffy decided to look for it herself. She spotted the kitchen to the left, of them but first took Logan to the couch and situated the trashcan near him. She knew all too well the effects of drinking.

She reached over to put on a few lamps in the darkened apartment. She wandered into the kitchen and started brewing the coffee. First thing she needed to do was sober Logan up and then let him talk it out.

Buffy listened with her heart clinching in pain for her friend. He was so in love with Max-, he couldn't see straight and then to top it off she had some retrovirus thingy that prevented them from even touching. Forbidden Love- she knew that tale all to well. She stood over him and helped him sit upright on the couch while the coffee maker percolated in the background. She had by this point gotten a warm washcloth to wipe his face.

She had taken a washcloth to clean his face and had him started on his second pot of coffee. Logan turned his head and looked to Buffy with such pain in his face. "She has someone else, I couldn't believe it… And the guy she chose, I mean, why would she choose someone who is the epitome of things unfaithful?"

"Why don't you get explainy and then we'll see what's what? " Buffy sat on the couch beside Logan while he sipped his coffee with a grimace. The beginnings of a horrible hangover were well on its way.

"I went over to her apartment to talk to her and he was there, holding her...When I asked her about it, she wouldn't deny it."

Max had not seemed like the type to run around on Logan, I mean the guy was so in love with her- he couldn't see straight. And she may not be close with Max like say her ex-No. This was not about her- this was about comforting Logan. She grimaced and tried to placate Logan's feelings. This was about comforting her friend." Max really doesn't seem like the type, I mean are you sure the guy just wasn't a friend?"

Logan's face turned serious," This guy wouldn't know the meaning of friend, especially of the female persuasion."

"I know I don't know her as well as you – but maybe there is a rational explanation? And eh gads- I just sounded like Giles." Off Logan's confused look-, "You know Old watcher- blah – blah. Anyhow-" Buffy motioned Logan to continue.

"I should have known… The guy thinks his a gift to all womankind- I just never thought Max would fall for Alec. I mean I understand that they were forced to rely on each other in Manticore."

Buffy swallowed absently- her face was stone, while she processed the information. Logan had noticed Buffy's silence. "Buffy, what's wrong? Is it the baby? Do you need to lie down?" He mumbled to him-self, "I had no right to ask you to come over considering your condition. Buffy – Buffy -Are you alright?"

Buffy snapped out of her shocked state and gave a slight smile, "Logan, remember when I told you the father was not in the picture? That wasn't entirely true. You know that I was locked in Manticore with Max and Alec?"

"Buffy, what does that have to do..." Then, as if a light bulb went off, Logan's face changed to understanding. "Oh, Buffy I'm sorry. I had no idea. Alec's the father?" Surprise with shock flitted across his face. "It isn't fair of me to put this on you."

"Logan, Logan. It's okay besides he let me know less than two weeks ago that he wanted nothing to do with me." She shrugged silently, "Not the first time- I've been dumped." (At least this time the said guy didn't turn into a demon and try to kill everybody) That should have been comforting but it wasn't. Angel turning evil was partly her fault. Maybe she should just consider-no relationships- they tended to end badly anyway. Not that she was looking because hello, nine-week pregnant slayers not exactly on everybody's wish lists for dating potential. "But let's not worry about me. I'm fine- more concerned about you and your new grunge look." A small smile graced Buffy's lips. Buffy's hands pointed in the shambled state of Logan's apartment.

"Yes, well I suppose it does bear explaining."

Buffy picked up the open bottle sitting on the coffee table and smelled with her face scrunching in disgust, "What were you drinking, Turpentine?"

"NO that was some left-over from a dinner party I attended some time ago."

"So you want to tell me what happened or do you want to bask in the funk of misery."

Logan began to relay to Buffy with emotion of how, he had come upon Alec with Max, downplaying his hurt to protect Buffy's feelings.

Flashback-

Max removed one of her gloves and compared the symbol on her palm to the pendant she had gotten from Joshua. They matched exactly. She stealthily snuck into Logan's dark apartment with her excellent cat-burglary skills. She walked softly to the white erase board.

Logan had set it up earlier as a means to visually track the information; they were trying to piece together about Sandeman. She hung the pendant over the arch of the side of the board. She took the marker and circling the place; it fell upon the board and drew a connecting arrow between the words "SANDEMAN" and "BREEDING CULT.)

Suddenly the light and the computer equipment all came to life, illuminating a very sloshed Logan sitting at the kitchen table with a glass and a large bottle of alcohol. Logan laughed, "Hi there!"

Max looked away, "The lights were out. I didn't know you were home."

"Cause if you did, you wouldn't have come, huh?" Logan lifted the drink to his lips and swallowed.

Feebly attempting to change the subject, "I found this around Joshua's neck. He said Father gave it to him. It's the same symbol the breeding cult uses."

Logan chuckled loudly while he poured another drink "So Sandeman is one of White's cult loonies, huh? Woo-hoo." He took his hand and turned it in a circle in the air.

Max still was attempting to remain unaffected, "Logan, there's a connection between the breeding cult and Manticore."

Logan stood shakily and began to walk toward Max. "Maybe I oughta do an Eyes Only hack, huh? I mean, this is a big news day. In case you hadn't noticed, I tried paging you. Wanted to talk to you, but, uh...guess you were busy."

Max backed away slowly, "I'm going. I just thought you wanted to know."

Max turned and attempted to walk out the door, but Logan rushed over and got in her way repeatedly

Max frustrated "Cut it out."

Logan stood in front of the door arms crossed, "I could keep you here all night." He stood staring in her eyes with a passion. "At least 'til I drop dead."

Max rasped. "Come on, Logan." She tried to sidestep him and he followed her mirroring her steps. "I've said everything I needed to say."

Logan stiffened his back after her comment, "I don't think so. I think there's something else."

Unsure of where or what he meant Max gave a confused look, "Logan..."

Logan interrupted his anger still brewing beneath the surface. " Or is it someone else?"

" What?"

"I needed to talk to you, so I came by your apartment...and I saw him leaving." Off of Max's silence Logan continues, "I-I mean, if I've got it wrong, just say so."

Max continued silence was leaving a bitter taste in his mouth and a sinking feeling in his stomach. "Tell me it's not true."

Max held her stance speaking without emotion, "I can't. (After a pause) It's over. We're done. Get used to it." Max walked around Logan and left the apartment with a click of the door. Logan didn't move too shell shocked to react.

End Flashback

Buffy pulled Logan into a friendly hug, her vow to help this man with Max-if it was the last thing she did. She still had trouble believing that Max would go for Alec, not that she had any say in any of the women he had been with lately, but surely Max was smarter than to get involved with the biggest player around.

**
Max silently stared out into the darkness atop her thinking spot on the Space Needle. She barely turned her head when she heard Alec approach. She knew the X-5 would be here- they both were in a similar place with their chosen love interests.

He stood awkwardly silent for a moment before speaking, "Hey Max, Thought I'd find you here."

Without turning around Max snorted, "I come here to be alone."

Alec shoved his hands in his pockets as he came closer. "Yeah, I know, but considering everything that went down today, I figured we could both use a friend right now."

Max sighed, "Sit down."

Alec sat down beside Max silently, "So, you got any deep thoughts you want to share? Any, Uh, profound realizations about life?"

Max's face held the pain she was trying desperately to hold in. "Yeah. Love sucks."

Alec mumbled, "Right there with you."

Chapter 18- Mine

Alec had been keeping tabs on her for the last week. It was getting harder, especially with her slayer senses. He knew if he got to close, she would feel him in a second. He had Biggs follow her couple of times, so it would keep her from knowing it was he, he could swear she was aware of him. She would stop and turn her head slightly and then continue to wherever she was headed. One night, he even went so far as to follow her to her apartment building, keeping a healthy distance of course. If she caught him stalking her after he told her to stay away. His reward would be an ass kicking to rival Max's. Never mind that he told her to stay away. He also was making it a point to protect her, and this guy practically humping the counter to get at her needed to get away fast, he was not worthy of her and until a guy came along that was worthy of her- he would make sure that every damn last one of them left her alone. He wasn't analyzing that thought process completely realizing that he would never find anyone worthy of her; Time to chase the man away. He stood and walked slowly to the bar and sat beside the normal that was currently eyeing his mate with obvious lust. Buffy had given the guy more than an eyeful and it was time for this normal to walk away. He just needed to give the guy incentive and he had just the idea. He idly looked the man up and down when his back was turned. He slid onto the bar stool and motioned one of the other waitress for a drink. Her brought the scotch to his lips and swirled the liquid in the glass. He leaned onto the bar, "So I noticed you seem to have a thing for my friend Bart."

"You mean the waitress." The man turned to apprise Alec. "Thought her name was Buffy."

"Yeah, that's what he tells people, I mean its amazing what they can do with a simple operation." Alec laughed inside, this was just too freaking easy.

"Operation?" The man finally swiveled on his stool to face Alec. "What, Operation?" His face scrunched up in the confusion that was evident.

Hook, now for the sweet finish. "Look, you seem like a nice guy, just if you were to take him home, Didn't want you to get a shock- see he never finished the operation."

"Are you saying she is a he?" The man sputtered almost spitting his drink on Alec.

Alec laid a comforting hand on the man's shoulder, "Don't feel bad- you wouldn't be the first one to fall for Bart's …I mean Buffy's lie."

The man seemed to consider that and then stood dropping off a few bills and then left before Buffy came back. Alec just smiled at how easy it was. That was actually pretty fun. He scouted the bar to see if any other men were sniffing around his woman.

Buffy returned and gave Alec a strange look. "Great looks like I lost another tip for the night." She muttered to herself. She took the bills and refused to even acknowledge Alec.

He was scrutinizing every aspect of her beautiful face. Alec smirked, "Well you could wait on me?" He flipped out with charm, "I mean you are in the service business- Why not service me?"

Buffy huffed, "That never ends well, now does it?" She rolled her eyes and fake- smiled. "What do you want Alec?"

"Maybe- I just like the view from over here." He turned up his glass and slammed it on the bar. "The mountains seem to be out in full force tonight." His gaze settled on her open shirt and her fuller breasts pushing at the seams.

She immediately saw where his gaze was directed and snorted, "Pervert. - I'll get someone to wait on you."

Before she had a chance to turn, away Alec slid his hand up her arm.
He whispered seductively, "Are you refusing to service me?"

A smug smile crossed her lips "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone." Buffy said, crossing her arms and pulling her arm out of his attempted caress.

Giving her a roguish grin, "I don't know sweetheart." Alec winked. "You sure you want someone else taking care of my needs."

"Sorry, the Buffy train is no longer taking passengers and this is your stop- so get off." She pursed her lips in annoyance. Why? Did he insist on bating her? She stayed away from him like he asked and he didn't want to play fair. "Just tell me what you want so we can move on?"

Alec smiled appreciatively with a smirk; "I want you between the sheets of my bed."

Buffy chewed on her bottom lip. He really wanted to make her suffer.
"You told me to stay away from you and now you're horny? So, you thought- hey let's go see what Buffy the slut is up to... I am so- not- having sex with you… not now… not ever..." Buffy could tell Alec was going to address that last part so she quickly added, "Again."

Alec snorted, "If you're not open for business – maybe you shouldn't advertise." Alec stood and walked away. He was suddenly too pissed to think about anything other this his body screaming for its mate. Alec had grabbed his jacket from his chair. He needed out of this place and a walk home to cool down his suddenly overheated body.

Buffy bit her lip; she just wished he would stop toying with her. With glassy eyes, she looked up to see Logan standing before her.

Logan asked, "Buffy, are you okay?"
Buffy shook her head yes and her face changed from sad to worried as Logan began to talk to her in hushed tones as she threw her apron on the counter and followed him out into the nighttime.