She knew that Buffy hoped that their friends might bring her out of her funk last night. But when their mindless prattle turned to that of the Master and his burial ground, it had turned her blood cold. All she could do was stand there and stare at the grave from a distance, her breathing becoming rapid.

Buffy shook her several times before she'd come out of her stupor. That's when she snapped, and Jessica had an epic meltdown.

"Buffy, you self-righteous hypocrite, I am tired of you. You don't hold the god damn monopoly on pain and suffering. You don't understand, therefore, you can't help. End of story."

Xander tried to calm her by putting a hand on her shoulder and got that hand bitten off. Jessica angrily turned on Xander and laid into him.

"And you, you walking penis on a stick. How can you one minute almost play tonsil hockey with someone you call your best friend, and the next minute shamelessly flirt with Buffy? That's beyond douche baggery." Xander walked away fuming.

Her most hurtful remarks she saved for last, putting Willow in tears. "And you Willow, you deserve better than someone that is undeserving of your affections. He barely even acknowledges or returns them. You are not some pathetic fan girl with a crush, so stop acting like one!"

Buffy walked up and slapped her in the face. "Cool it Jessica, you're way out of line," Jessica walked up to Buffy menacingly, ready to take her one on one.

Buffy's eyes narrowed, she was oh so ready to teach her step-sister a valuable lesson if she had to, but was hoping that Jessica would see reason and back down. She waited two beats and then saw Jessica's anger deflate. What replaced it she didn't like any better. The despondent and defeated expression on Jessica's face was enough to make the most hardened criminal break down and cry. Buffy's heart went out to her and before she knew it Jessica turned and bolted.

"Jessica, wait!" Buffy yelled and took off after her step sister with Willow and Xander tagging along.

They soon came up on Jessica fighting off a couple of vamps and rushed to help her. Jessica in her anger and sheer luck of the draw staked one vamp rather quickly, the other one took her down and tried to take a chunk out of her. Buffy got there just in time to stake it before it chomped down on her reckless sister. Buffy was fuming as they continued their trek home, they didn't even notice someone watching them from the shadows smirking.

When they both finally reached home, Willow and Xander cringed as Buffy lit into Jessica. "What is wrong with you? Running off like that, anything could have happened."

"I handled myself fine, I don't need Buffy the meddler always coming to my rescue," Jessica fumed.

Oh, I see, almost getting bit is handling yourself, I bow to your superior intellect," Buffy said through gritted teeth as she rolled her eyes.

"Bite me Buffy!" Jessica yelled as her eyes burned with fresh tears. She turned to shut herself in her room, but Buffy grabbed her arm forcefully.

Before their verbal match became something more physical Joseph Cine intervened. Separating the two of them Joseph looked at them in concern. He hadn't heard half of the heated whispers between them and hadn't really understood the other half, but he was nipping this in the bud now.

"Buffy, Jessica, I am going to escort Willow and Xander home, by the time I return, I want whatever this is, resolved," His gaze left no room for argument.

As Joseph, Xander and Willow turned to leave Buffy turned to Jessica. "You have to stop this recklessness Jessica before you get yourself or someone else killed," Buffy whispered, trying to plead with her stepsister.

Jessica turned away from Buffy and quickly went into her room, closing the door on Buffy and any further conversation on the matter.

Buffy sighed and went into her own room and silently prayed to whoever was listening that Jessica would wake up before something bad happened. She herself had felt the same way after her brief death, but seeing how badly Jessica was handling everything made her put her own feelings into perspective. She had tried to be the stronger one, trying to help Jessica navigate through the raw emotions of her own mortality. But God, how could she do that when she hadn't really done it herself.

When Joseph returned home he had a deep conversation with his wife about their daughters. Joseph and Joyce didn't know what was going on with Jessica and Buffy, but then and there they decided to get a counselor for them.

They knew they would not go for it if they outright forced them to see one privately. So, Joseph hashed a plan to get one integrated into the school and have it for all the students. They would then sign both Buffy and Jessica into the first sessions with him. It was sort of a red herring, but God knows the students in Sunnydale high needed counseling just as sure as his daughters did. He sat down and made a few phone calls to set things in motion.

The Next Morning Jessica rose early; she didn't want to be bothered with all the hubbub of greeting everyone or being coddled yet again by her newly made family. She got ready quickly and quietly and before anybody could even pop their heads out of their bedroom door, she'd headed out for school.

She knew it was reckless and foolhardy to go out alone even if the sun had already made her appearance, but at this point she could care less. The nightmares she'd had every night for the past few weeks had made her all but numb inside. She'd barely gotten any sleep because of them and the sleep deprivation plus the sheer fear of what she somehow knew was coming was getting the better of her.

When she finally reached the front entrance of the school the front doors were still locked. Taking a deep breath, she sat down on the steps and closed her eyes. A tear ran down her face as her heart ached something awful. She felt so helpless, she didn't know what to do. She wanted to talk to somebody but was afraid that it would make her nightmares tangible and real. The last thing she wanted to happen was for that nightmare world to become a reality. Jessica shivered and began to cry full out until a gentle hand touched her on the shoulder. She looked up into the gaze of a worried Rupert Giles.

"Miss Cine, are you alright? You're here quite early, is everything ok?" his heart lurched as he thought of the worst-case scenario. "Is... Is Buffy ok?"

Jessica laughed bitterly as the tears flowed down her face mutinously. "Oh yes, our precious little Buffy is quite alright Giles," she shook his hand from her shoulders and got up and marched into the now unlocked school, leaving Giles to wonder what he had said to upset her more.

Jessica strolled down the empty corridors. She didn't want to head for the library because she knew it would soon be filled with the people she was trying very hard to avoid. So, she just walked the halls aimlessly, her mind lost in the torture of her thoughts. She was so unfocused to the real world that she didn't even notice her little bald nemesis standing in front of her, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

"What are you doing here at this hour Cine? There will be no vandalism or graffiti tolerated here like they do in Chicago, and they call that crap art." Snyder looked down his nose at her which was a feat, considering he was at least a foot and a half shorter.

Jessica rolled her eyes at the little neophyte and walked around him not giving him much thought.

"That would be something to see wouldn't it, especially since I have nothing on my person to even start such a project. Oh, and by the way you would not know true art even if someone came up and pummeled you with the Mona Lisa."

Jessica turned the corner and sighed as she distinctly heard Snyder yell out that she would have detention after school for that smart remark. She continued her trek until she ended up in the school's courtyard, she sat and waited for the school's minions to arrive.

She held her head down and tried to control her warring emotions that blazed like a deadly inferno. She was being so unfair to the friends and family that were only trying to help and comfort her. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't quell the turbulent fear and anxiety within her being. It was killing her little by little, something was coming for her and she did not know what, how, or when, and that was why her fear was steadily building each day right along with those god-awful nightmares.

She looked up when she noticed someone walking towards her. She gazed quizzically at the exotic looking computer teacher as she trekked towards her. Jenny Calendar came and sat beside her but didn't say a word, she just sat there in a companionable silence, gazing at the courtyard and letting Jessica stew in her own juices. Jessica waited for her to say something, for her to try like everyone else to get through to her with words, with words that felt like false comforts, but Jenny said nothing. She just sat with Jessica and didn't utter a single word.

They sat like this for nearly ten minutes and then suddenly Jessica lost the battle with her emotions and inner turmoil. The dam finally broke and she started crying her eyes out, all her anguish pouring out in a single heart wrenching wail. Jenny just took her and held her close, rocking her back and forth tenderly brushing her hair with her hand. The two women stayed in this position for another ten until Jessica was all cried out. Jenny looked down at Jessica and wiped the few stray tears that were left and lifted her chin. "Jessica, I don't know what is wrong other than what we went through last year. I won't even ask. I'll just wait till you're ready," she paused and smiled as Jessica's brow furrowed in a troubling way.

"We all will Jessica," she guided Jessica's gaze over to one of the courtyard doors where a worried librarian immediately made himself scarce.

Jessica burst into laughter at his antics and looked up at a smiling Ms. Calendar. "Thank you," She whispered hoarsely, but said nothing else, her eyes pleading with Jenny to just wait a little longer and she would spill soon. Jenny just nodded and got up and left Jessica to her thoughts. Jessica watched her walk away, no doubt in her mind that she went to appease the increasing worry of a certain Librarian and his charges.

Jessica stayed out in the courtyard as the school began to fill with reluctant students. She chuckled as she heard the absurd conversation Cordelia Chase had with her Cordettes.

"It was a nightmare. A nightmare. They promised me we were going to St. Croix and then at the last minute, they just decide we're gonna visit Tuscany instead. Art. Buildings. Totally beachless for a month and a half. No one has suffered as I have suffered. Of course, I think that kind of adversity builds character. But then I thought, well I already have a lot of character, I mean it is possible to have too much character, isn't it?" Cordelia and her Cordettes walk up to a smirking Jessica. Her eyes narrowed at Jessica.

"What's so funny initiate?" Jessica's eyebrow went up and she swallowed hard, she hoped to all things holy that Cordy was not actually trying to make her into one of her mindless Cordettes. They couldn't even think for themselves without putting their heads up her ass for God's sake. She would pluck both her eyes out before she even considered such torture.

Cordelia smiled evilly as she read the look on Jessica's face. She would be a full-fledged Cordette before the month was out. "Don't forget about practice after school, we'll definitely be ready for nationals. I intend on winning that first-place trophy this year."

"I don't think I'll make it today. Snyder has given me detention after school," Jessica frowned.

"How the hell have you accomplished getting detention and the first class of the year hasn't even started yet?" Cordelia raised an eyebrow at the stupidity of that accomplishment. Jessica looked quite sheepish as she remembered her condescending remark to the Assistant Principal who had slowly become the bane of her existence.

"No matter, just go to Principal Flutie, who I believe you have wrapped around your little finger, and get out of it. I expect to see you in practice on time and ready to do your thing," Cordelia and her sheep walked on, not giving Jessica a second glance.

Jessica looked over to her left and noticed Snyder sneering at her while Giles and Jenny ignored him and gazed into each other's eyes. 'Jesus, those two need to just kiss and get it done with,' She got up to go into the school to get to her first class of the day, avoiding yet again her step sister and their friends as she caught a glimpse of them walking up to Giles and Jenny.

To his utter annoyance Jessica had gotten out of Snyder's detention per her squad practice. She felt a little guilty about pulling the favorite principal card, but only a little since Snyder seemed hell bent on making an example out of her and Buffy for some inhuman reason. She silently walked into the library, so she could walk home with Buffy after both of their practice sessions. Buffy wasn't quite finished with her training, so she sat down in one of the chairs and watched in awe as her amazing sister did her thing.

Buffy moved with such grace and quick movements. It was almost hard to follow her with the naked eye. Giles tried to retreat as buffy did a series of high kicks on him. She did and aerial flip and threw a stake into the heart of a man-shaped target that Giles had built just for this occasion.

Then she went into a rhythmic dance with the wooden post that Giles constructed to test her punching agility and ingenuity. Her speed increased in intensity and fever as her fist flew at the beat-up post, Buffy's face was that of sheer concentration as she took to her task. You could dance to the beat of her punches and Jessica found herself spellbound by her sister's amazing slayer ability.

Buffy's face flashed in pain for a second and her fighting became feverish as she continued to rain down blow after blow on the post. Giles watched her wondering what had transpired to cause this sudden erratic transition within his slayer. Glancing at Jessica he noticed the fear in her eyes, his gaze slowly settled back on his slayer with outward concern on his face.

"Buffy... I think that's enough... Buffy!"

At this last she jerked back from the post and with all her might kicked it, easily snapping it in half. She looked at Giles, her breathing heavy as sweat trickled down her forehead.

"Safe to say, you've stayed in shape," Giles raised an eyebrow as his slayer and her sister become entranced with one another. What the bloody hell was going on?

Buffy locked eyes with Jessica and she realized for the first time that Buffy has known all along the sheer terror that she has been going through, because she has been going through the exact same thing.

"Well, I'm ready for anything those vampires want to throw at me." Buffy proclaimed more as a comfort to Jessica than herself. She would not let whatever plans these bastards had for them come into fruition if she had anything to do with it.

Jessica's tears started a fresh, she felt like a heal for calling Buffy a hypocrite. Buffy had all but hid her pain to try to get through to her. She was the hypocrite, not Buffy. She was ready to come clean as she gazed at the Slayer and her watcher. They sensed her need to talk and both sat down to give her their undivided attention.

She opened her mouth to begin her confession and then closed it sharply when the last person she wanted to hear this walked in. Jessica closed her eyes in fear and both Giles and Buffy looked on in confusion.

"The Masters minions are up to something, his grave has been excavated and his bones are gone," Angel said in clear fear. The Master was the last vampire he wanted to be resurrected.

Buffy and Jessica sat on a couch by the coffee table, both lost in thought. After a spell, Xander and Willow join her, sitting opposite each other. Xander next to Buffy. Willow next to Jessica. Willow was still a little wary of Jessica and hadn't forgiven her even though she had apologized for what she had said about her and Xander.

"Buffy. Buffy!" Buffy snapped out of it as Xander sat next to her.

"Fine! I'm fine!" Buffy blurted out.

"huh? Good. It's good that you're fine," Xander smiled and glanced at Jessica who was still in deep thought.

"What were you thinking about?" Willow asked Buffy

"Nothing'" Both Buffy and Jessica said at the same time, they look up and smile at each other. Willow narrowed her eyes and gave Jessica a look that said I wasn't talking to you. Jessica shrank in on herself and held her head down.

"Come on, you can tell us! We're your bosom friends. The friends of your bosom," Xander said cheerily.

"Xander...," Willow warned Xander not to be pushy with a look.

"I wasn't thinking anything. Really. Did I have think-face? Cause there was nothing going on," Buffy looked at Jessica worriedly wondering why she had suddenly become tight lipped.

"What'd you do last night?" Willow dug into her lunch.

"Slept," Buffy said as she kept a close I on Jessica who was examining her shoes very closely. Something wasn't right here.

Xander held up his breakfast bar and Willow an apple. With unspoken accord, they toss them to each other. "Had weird dreams. I can't really remember them. I just know they were all over the place."

"Dreams are meaningful," Xander said in a cryptic Xander type way.

"They sure are. The other night I dreamt that Xander-," Willow stopped herself immediately and glanced at Jessica out of the corner of her eye. "Uh, it wasn't Xander. In fact, it wasn't me. It was a friend's dream, and they don't remember it."

"I'll bet they don't," Buffy smiled and glanced at a decidedly quiet Jessica.

Giles approached them frantically and Buffy rose to meet him. "What's the buzz?" You look worried."

"This vampire activity - I think I know what they're up to."

"Well, don't stress. We'll deal."

"I hope it's that simple."

"It is not to sweat. Trust me," Buffy paused as she noticed Jessica looking at her with a horrified expression on her face. Jessica slowly got up and started to walk past them, but before she could, Giles grabbed her by the throat and smiled at her lasciviously.

"I don't know. I mean, I killed the two of you once. It shouldn't be too difficult to do it again."

Buffy watched horrified as Giles Slammed Jessica down on the coffee table and began to do the unthinkable. "Giles get off her!" buffy yelled and tried to pry him off her crying sister.

Giles turned and punched her, sending her sprawling across the room. Before she could even move he's upon her, grabbing her by the throat. She glanced over at Jessica for help but there seemed to be another Giles still assaulting her sister, what the hell was going on. She tried to fight him off, her eyes widened at his strength, he was too strong.

She looked around and no one was paying any attention, not one student or teacher, not even their friends. Xander and Willow just sat there, oblivious to what was going on.

She clawed at his face, but only succeeded in pulling it off to reveal beneath it the face of the Master. She in her horror briefly looked over to Jessica and she seemed to have done the same thing, but her assailant to Buffy's alarm and sheer disbelief was not the Master, Its… "OH My God!"

Buffy woke with a start, to the screaming of her sister in the other room. Gasping and sweating she bolted out of bed and ran to Jessica's room, semi aware that there was someone standing at her window. As she ran into the room she gave her worried parents who were standing at their door a nod of assurance that she would handle the situation.

She jumped into Jessica's bed and cradled her comfortingly. Wondering if they had just had the same exact dream. Something was seriously wrong here if they were making appearances in each other's dreams. Jessica awakened completely freaked out and flailing about, trying to dislodge the person who was holding her to no avail. She finally calmed a bit when she realized it was Buffy, settling into Buffy's embrace Jessica looked around the dark room frantically looking for her attacker. When she found that they were alone in the room she wept quietly in Buffy's arms.

Buffy shivered uncontrollably as Jessica finally settled down enough to fall back asleep. She gently laid Jessica head on her pillow and slowly walked back to her room. Her visitor was still waiting on her with a worried expression on his face.

"Is she ok?" Angel asked concerned.

"Yes," Buffy gave a curt answer all the while looking at Angel with new eyes. She knew for sure that the dream she'd had was one of her prophetic slayer dreams, she knew it in her bones. But which parts could she take at face value and which could she take with a grain of salt. She knew for sure since the Masters bones had disappeared that his part in her dream wasn't to be taken lightly. But why had Jessica made a real cameo in her dream, and her part in the dream, God she sure as hell hoped that wasn't prophetic. If this kind of thing is what she had been dreaming about almost every night, no wonder she was on edge and distant from everyone.

She looked at Angel and sized him up. Did she know who he was or what he was capable off even with the soul? What kind of man was he before he was turned? She must have stood there quietly for too long because she noticed that Angel had started to fidget under her gaze.

"What is going on Buffy?" he said a bit angrily, he didn't like to be put under a microscope and that's what her gaze was beginning to feel like.

"Nothing," she lowered her gaze and grimaced, it wasn't fair to Judge him on something he hadn't even done. The damn dream just felt so real and horrifying. She wouldn't want to deal with the Angel that was capable of doing something like that.

"Was there something you wanted to talk to me about," Buffy asked as she edged closer to her own bed.

"Was just here to tell you that I'm trying to narrow down the very short list of vamps with the knowledge and capability of pulling of a vampire resurrection I think I may have a suspect but not a location," Angel said as he looked at her with longing.

"Good to know, let us know if you find a hideout of some kind. If not, I guess we'll find out soon enough," Angel edged closer to her and she took a step back.

"Angel it's getting late and I need my beauty sleep," The nightmare version of him had gotten to her more than she originally thought.

Angel's ego was a little hurt at her reaction towards him, but he backed down. "Sorry. I'll go," He turned for the window. He stood there facing it as Buffy hunkers down in bed, facing away from him.

"I missed you," Angel whispered quietly.

She couldn't reply right away, but the disapproval in her face melted away. After a couple of beats she turned, her true emotions about to spill out-. "I missed -." but he was gone. She stared at the window, unhappy.

The next night the Scooby crew were exited to go to the bronze to burn of some steam and get things of their mind and plus Cibo Matto was playing tonight so lots of room for dancing. Jessica seemed to be in a rare good mood despite what she'd been going through. She was going to have a good time tonight if it killed her.

Earlier that morning Buffy had firmly suggested they talk about their mutual Dream scape to Giles and Jessica reluctantly agreed, if for nothing else other than gaining some of her sanity back. Giles was initially taken aback about their tale of a shared prophetic dream and had rushed to look through many books on the subject to the groups added dismay.

They all had gasped in alarm as Jessica with support from Buffy told them of her part in the dream and had added she'd had similar dreams with the same outcome. Willow had tears in her eyes when they finished their tale, she went over and hugged Jessica and would not let go for what seemed like forever. They were both crying profusely to the men's utter dread.

Despite being ill at ease, Giles soldiered on, telling them that their shared dream state may have been due to their shared brief demise at the hand of the Master and that Jessica addition to shared dreams may just be from the anxiety of dealing with such things and not being willing to talk to others about the difficulty off it. He gave Jessica a pointed look to emphasize his statement.

She agreed whole heartedly that she would never torture herself again by holding things like this in. She had firmly and profusely apologized to Willow and Xander for her horrible behavior towards them and they accepted without pause considering all that Jessica was going through.

When all was said, and done they all made a date and set out for the bronze. They sat in their favorite spot and talked for a bit. Cordelia would come over periodically when her Cordettes weren't looking and throw a few insults at them and try to steal Jessica away, so they couldn't ruin the work she was trying to do with her. Jessica just rolled and told her to go away.

She got up without the Scooby's noticing and went to the ladies' room to relieve herself and freshen up. When she walked out the band was playing one of her favorite slow songs, she was about to go ask Xander to dance when she noticed this hot guy coming her way. She gulped as he slowly made his way towards her and then she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when he passed her by completely.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt him behind her "Would you like to dance luv?"

Jessica's heart was pounding in her chest; she didn't trust herself to speak so she just nodded, he grasped her hand and led her to the dance floor.

The Scooby's, at that time noticed her absence and began to scan the immediate vicinity for her. That's when they noticed her dancing rather intimately with a man they had never met before and all eyebrows hit the sky.

"What the hell!" Xander exclaimed to the agreement of everyone around him. They watch as the dance between the two strangers became a little to erotic.

Cordelia eyes narrowed at Jessica's, this was certainly behavior unbecoming of a future Cordette.

The blonde danced slowly around her a little too close and a little too hot, hugging her curves as he moved. Slowly touching her subtly without being outright vulgar or grabby, but sensual and tasteful. It's pure bad boy and Jessica's was entranced by him. She closed her eyes as he slowly brought his lips to hers, never touching but always teasing. He swung her around and wrapped his arms around her waist holding her from behind in a suggestive way as they swayed to the beat of the music. He brought his mouth close to her neck and he lightly brushed his lips on the vein in her neck and made her shiver from head to toe.

He chuckled slightly and tightened his grip. "You certainly love the dance don't you my sweet," he kissed her neck again and let go. "Until we meet again Slayer."

That statement quickly brought Jessica out of her aroused stupor. "What, I'm not the Slayer," she exclaimed as her eyes popped open. But he was long gone. She looked at her friends and new she had just stepped in it once again. "Oh Boy!"