Here's chapter four. If I have any readers I would like it if you reviewed. ::sighs heavily:: R&R.

Death is Imminent

Buffy and the Had'rei had been fighting for the better part of an hour. He was relentless but so was she. Her body was about to give in soon but she knew she had to last. Their fight was mostly a shot period of blows—she would get a round kick to his chest or neck, he would jab her in the face, one of them would get the upper hand but then loose it quickly. After that they would circle each other like hawks for minutes at a time trying to find an opening and the fighting would resume.

After a while the Had'rei became infuriated and lost his temper then Buffy had the lead. She was slashing him with her sword and getting some good slices to his face and stomach. She lunged at him with the sword for the finishing blow but he dodged and she missed entirely. Her sword was embedded in the wall and she had no hope of getting it out. Buffy pulled out her mace and swung in threateningly.

The slayer was about to move in once more when she saw someone else move behind her. The demon took this advantage and knocked her to the ground. She jumped up, not wanting him to gain an inch of ground.

The Had'rei began to screech and snarl, trashing about wildly. The slayer stared on, unsure of what to make of his behavior. He jumped up and down crazed, mad with anger and frustration.

At first Buffy thought there was a purpose to his madness, but the shrugged the idea off and instead she started to taunt the demon. "Hey ugly! You finally coming to terms with the fact that I'm gonna kill ya?" She laughed a little as he jumped harder, too confident with her situation. "I don't know what's gotten into that pea brain of yours, but this is no time for the Hokey--" She was unable to finish, because at that moment the floorboards caved and both Buffy and the demon were sent crashing to the room below.

She groaned when she tried to move. Buffy felt numerous bruises, cuts, and scrapes as she pushed a heavy plank off of her legs. The slayer sat up and squinted to keep the remaining bits of dust and debris out of her eyes. She stared at the gaping hole in the ceiling above her, nodding in realization. "Oooh. That's what he was doing."

She tried to stand but she screamed in pain and collapsed back onto the cold cement ground, finding she couldn't support any of her weight on her enormously swollen ankle.

"Damn," Buffy gently prodded the tender area. "I'm in a lot of trouble if it's broken." She sensed movement. 'The demon!' Buffy slowed her breathing in an effort to concentrate. She took in her surroundings but she couldn't see much. 'I have a feeling that fall wouldn't hurt that demon half as much as it hurt me.' She only had the dim light from the floor above her, but she knew all to well she was in a vulnerable position.

Buffy scanned the room for signs of the demon. She had lost both of her weapons in the fall and she knew the chunks of would she had at hand would do little if nothing to help her.

There was a slow feral growl from the corner to her left. Only sheer luck could get her out of this alive, but if she was going down she was going to take this demon too.

The slayer listened intently for the sound of his movements, so she could time when he might strike. Buffy picked up one of the larger planks of wood and held it tight ready to defend herself. She was upset at the fact that she was condemned to fight for her life sitting on a concrete floor but she could make it worth her while.

She tensed when she heard the floor creak above her. 'Oh no, more of them! I can't fight all of them but… I can't die here.' Just them Buffy saw a black figure jump down. He landed swiftly then quietly dashed for the shadows.

Buffy heard a startled growl, a few punches and kicks, a weapon or two clashing, a loud squish, a thud, and then silence.

She tried hard to understand what had just happened. She knew what she heard but she couldn't imagine someone who could kill that demon so easily.

She called out into the darkness out of curiosity, "Who are you? How did you do that?" Silence. "What are you?"

Buffy heard the man rummaging through the debris and testing some of the wood. Suddenly, his presence started to make sense in her mind. He was trying to find another weapon to kill her with! 'Oh great!'

The slayer tightened her grip on her plank as he grew closer. "I'm the Slayer!" She yelled holding her weapon up. Her last ditch effort to scare him off seemed to work. He paused just on the verge of light. She decided to keep trying. "That's right, don't move. I can kill you where you stand!"

This brought a small laugh from the dark. Buffy clamed up. He took a step forward but only the bottom half of his body was visible in the light.

She watched as his long leather coat swayed at his feet. At this sight she felt inexplicably safe. He extended his hand toward her and she took it. His hand was smooth, yet firm. Buffy was instantly comforted by his warm strong grasp. He handed her a long thick board and made sure she could support her weight on it.

Buffy mentally kicked herself for thinking he was going to kill her. She gazed into the dark, imagining her savior's face. They weren't two feet apart and she wanted desperately to yank him into the light and see who he was but at the same time she felt she shouldn't.

Instead she reached out and touched him. Her fingers traced his smooth sculpted cheek. "Thank you." She felt his cheek warm and curve into smile beneath her hand, so she smiled back.

He turned, walked away from her and opened a door on the wall to her right. 'I'm glad he knew that was there.' Buffy looked at his silhouetted figure in the doorway. "Wait. Who are you…..how can I ever thank you?" The slayer got no response. He simply walked out leaving the door open for her. With the aid of her staff she hobbled to the door and searched the hall knowing he'd be gone.

Buffy took the corridor to safety and thanked the heavens that she got out alive.

As she took the well lit streets home, she found her thoughts consumed by the stranger who saved her life and a determination to discover his identity.

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Buffy slowly walked out of her house grateful she didn't wake her mom. Her plan was to get to school early knowing that Giles would already be there and inform him of everything that happened at Justyn's Cabin.

Every time she thought about the Had'rei she thought about the person that saved her. She would find him on her own time. Giles didn't have to worry about that. There was someone out there, someone strong that she could trust and she had a feeling he wouldn't just be an ally, but something more. There was also someone that wanted her dead and she would find his identity too.

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Well, there you go. Chapter four. SPIKE!!!!! I luv him. Review Please!