The Balance II

Rating: R

Summary: Neil's dark side starts to make her move…

Disclaimer: I don't own the Buffy and Angel characters, but the other characters and the story are mine.

Special Note: This takes place a couple of days after the first story.

"I can see why you always looked so bored on patrol on TV. They aren't exactly hopping out of the woodwork, are they?" Helen asked.

"Nope, they're hop-free." Buffy replied. "Those vamps, they're wacky like that. No offense, but I thought you would be patrolling with that really tall studly boyfriend of yours. Um, what's-his-name. I want to say…Nathan?"

"Neptune. It's his turn to watch over Neil tonight. The doctors say he still needs more bed rest."

"Still? But he's of the good?"

"Yeah. He's just completely exhausted after all the energy he expended because of Ethan."

"We shouldn't have to worry about him anymore. His chaos-worshipping butt is in the ol' pokey now. And good riddance."

"I hope he remembers to not bend over in the shower to pick up the soap. Listen to me. That's something Athena would say."

"Um, okay. Are Athena and Faith still-?" Buffy made a running motion with her fingers.

"Stuck together like glue. Athena and Faith are having happy Faithgasms and Athenagasms together."

"Way too much info."

"Speaking of significant others…" Helen gave Buffy a meaningful look.

"Not you too! What is this, guilt-trip Buffy week?!"

"Every week is guilt-trip Buffy week. It's a holiday that just never goes away."

"How wonderful."

"You'll get over it. You really should tell, you know."

"Can we focus on the patrolling please? You know, for vampires? Not my conscience?"

"Don't be testy, Miss Sarcasm. I just- we're up. Well, they are."

Buffy followed Helen's gaze to a couple of vamps erupting from their graves.

They raced toward the disoriented undead, stakes raised.

"I just don't trust her. I mean, I could use the Internet to scare up a ton of help." Mr. Trick said.

"Well, I don't trust her either. But she did get me the Books of Ascension, free of charge. And all she had to do was slice up one little demon. So, you can't doubt her efficiency." The Mayor replied.

"Not her efficiency I'm doubtin', it's her loyalty."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, Mr. Trick. I have safeguards in place. Safeguards she will never see coming. Safeguards that are just super! So, don't worry your little head about it!" The Mayor made that weird chipper chuckle of his and walked away. Mr. Trick watched him go and sighed in annoyance.

"Got evil Mr. Rogers on one side and some red-headed psycho on the other. How do I get myself in this wacked-out shit?"

Shaking his head, he left the Mayor's office and closed the door behind him, unaware of the shadows watching his every move. When Mr. Trick was gone, the shadows stretched and from their dark depths emerged a now all-too familiar shape, and the darkness let her go almost grudgingly.

Safeguards are only effective if you know what to guard against, dear Richard. she thought. She held out her hand and formed a ball of energy. Neptune and a sleeping Neil were visible inside the shimmering globe.

"Soon. All too soon." she smiled. She traced Neil's figure in the globe with her fingers.

"And then I'll have you and never let you go. Never."

Dismissing the ball with a gesture, she strode, if not almost slithered down the hallway.

And the shadows rolled and followed her in sinister obeisance.

(Insert Buffy Credits Here. Heh.)