More A/N: Sorry it took so long for another installment! My muse was playing hide and seek, I hate it when she does that... anyways, some more things to be aware of that I haven't made crystal clear: SunnyD is indeed gone, the gang is in another California town, but the Potentials thing never happened. It was purely the original Scoobies, plus Tara and Faith (who's backstory I will hopefully get around to) that made the place go "kaboom". So, no Kennedy for Willow. But also never any Tara for Willow, they were nothing more than just good friends (for these intents and purposes). We'll say that the "Potentials" spell still happened, but Tara tethered Willow instead of Kennedy, and it made the original slayers stronger instead of activating new ones. And, obviously, Tara never got shot. Got that?

Chapter 4

Olivia was sitting hunched over her desk like she did whenever she was thinking, but in this instance her brain was on empty, and so was her body. Physically and emotionally exhausted, her body was telling her that enough was enough. Sleep had eluded her for days, and the lack of such an important commodity was beginning to take its toll on her logic skills. She was beginning to think the teeth marks could have been caused by vampires. Convincing the ridiculous idea to leave her brain, Olivia made her way over to the coffee pot to pour herself another glass of insomniac's juice.

The case was having a similar toll on the rest of the squad. Nothing had ever passed through the precinct quite like this before. There had been odd cases, unfathomable cases, but none so strange as this one. This one was purely unexplainable. Elliot had gone home to Cathy and the kids, Munch and Fin had left to go catch a movie before heading home. Even the captain had left, although he did not have much to look forward to at his humble abode. Olivia stayed in the squad room, convinced that she had seen the marks on the victims before, but for the life of her could not remember where.

It was around twelve that night when another human, equally as puzzled about the details of the case, swept into the squad room, as surprised as Olivia was to find that another person was indeed awake and functioning at this hour.

"Casey, what are you doing here? Everyone else has gone home, there really is not much else we can accomplish tonight…" Olivia looked down, realizing that she should take her own words to heart.

"I could say the same for you Detective. But I also have a feeling that you can't forget about this case, because something is bothering you about it. Something other than the fact that this has to be the strangest case that we've ever seen." Casey pulled up Elliot's chair, joining Olivia at her desk. "Something about that mark… I feel like I've seen it before. Or like I should have seen it before… Somewhere…"

Olivia gave Casey the look she only reserved for Munch's conspiracy theories, but also granted her a nod of affirmation.

"I don't know Case, it seems like there is something I should remember about this case, that could help us solve it. And it's driving me nuts that I can't remember enough to end all this."

Casey glanced over at the detective, noticing the bags under her eyes and the lack of attention that she is giving her movements. When Olivia tries to turn around in her chair, her leg gets caught and she topples toward the floor. Casey, just as tired but quick in her reflexes, makes a grab for Olivia and gets her before she hits the ground.

"That's it, Detective. I know you want to work on this some more, but you sprawled out on the floor isn't going to do anyone any good. Especially if some poor citizen like me comes strolling in and falls for yo--- I mean on you." Trying to lighten the mood, Casey almost let her non-platonic feelings for the Detective out. But she need not worry, since Olivia was so far gone that Munch riding on a flying pony would have made sense to her at this point. Casey dragged her out to the curb, trying to flag down a cab. Whatever it was that they were thinking of, it would have to wait until morning.

Chapter 5

"I don't see another way Willow, I'm going to have to go to New York. I'm the Chosen One, remember?"

"Buffy," Willow stated reassuringly yet firmly. "I don't have a problem with you going to New York City, for the millionth time. Were you listening at all?"

Buffy turned red; she hadn't been listening, ever since her best friend had told her that she couldn't let her go to New York. She had been so busy trying to think of a way to get Willow to let her go that she had missed everything the redheaded witch had said.

"Exactly," Willow confirmed, crossing her arms. "I said, about ten times Buffy, that I want to go to New York with you. You're going to need a witch remember?"

Buffy was ready to protest, but looking at the Wicca's face, she knew there was no winning. She had donned the "resolve face," meaning that trying to argue with her at this point would be like trying to move a brick wall. Actually, with slayer strength, trying to move the wall would be easier.

"Don't try to go all "I'm the Chosen One" on me Buffy, you know it will never stop me from helping you. It never has before, never will in the future."

"Fine," Buffy relented, not willing to argue with her best friend. She was actually excited that her best friend wanted to come along. More Buffy and Willow quality time had been a necessity.

"We're going to need to call the NYPD, Giles, and Faith before we try and set up any other arrangements."

Up to this point, Buffy had been ok with the idea of going to New York to solve their latest "First" problem, but she was in the dark about why the phone calls, other than Giles, were needed.

"Willow, why…?" Buffy trailed off, seeing that her best friend, ever prepared, was already beginning to explain the phone calls to her partner in crime.

"The NYPD because we need all the info on these cases we can get, Giles is obvious, and Faith because two slayers are always better than one."

Her distain towards Faith still had a long ways to go before it had faded enough, but Willow had harbored more hatred towards her than any of the other Scoobies. But, yet again, Willow had predicted Buffy's confusion, and met her with an answer.

"Its about power, Buffy. I still hate Faith for what she did to you, and I trust her about as far as I can throw her. But the First won't care whether we're fighting together as best friends or mortal enemies, he'll just care that there are two slayers instead of one. I'm planning on asking Tara if she'll join us too, because I know my powers aren't nearly strong enough for this kind of prophecy."

It was not lost on Buffy that Willow had said "what Faith did to you" and not "what Faith did to me," and it was causing Buffy's thoughts to become lost in more thoughts of what she could have possibly meant. So lost in fact, that she did not notice the pillow sailing towards her face until it hit her.

"I hope you're not planning on fighting the First with that look on your face. I don't think he's much for drooly "I'm thinking of Angel" faces." Willow laughed.

Buffy, flustered at being caught yet again, was not quick on the reply.

"I… uh… wasn't… thinking of Angel…really…no…"

Willow shook her head, confused as always about her best friend's thoughts. She was never able to figure out what was going through Buffy's head. Not willing to try and figure them out, she simply grabbed Buffy's hand and led her toward the stairs.

"You. Pack. Now. I'll take care of the phone calls. Make sure to pack me some underwear!" Willow yelled, making sure Buffy heard what she was saying this time.

Before Buffy knew what had happened, she was standing at the bottom of the stairs, and she could hear Willow in the kitchen rifling through her phonebooks. As she headed up the stairs, Willow's last statement finally reached her ears. "Wait, I have to pack her underwear!" At this realization, Buffy's face reddened. It was obvious her best friend knew nothing about her attraction towards her, otherwise she would have never allowed her this pleasure…