A/N:

I'm sorry for taking too long to update. I've had to struggle with life, mostly about my health. Losing 100 lbs in three months ain't good, stupid thyroid gland...
I already finished the outline so I have a pretty good idea on where the story will go.

DISCLAIMER: Joss Whedon owns Buffy, Marvel owns the Avengers. I'm just the kid who likes playing in other people's backyards.

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FOUR.

The next morning, Buffy decided not to look at this gift horse in the mouth. Or was it the nose? What does it even mean, looking at a horse? Buffy thoughtfully paused while towelling her hair dry. Oh yeah, that's the part you should focus on, Buffy.

This was her chance. A chance at a normal life. Without the shadow of impending doom or the next apocalyptic event looming on the horizon, she didn't have to put her life on hold anymore in order to save the world again.

A world that had apparently screwed her over more times than she cared to count.

However, without demon slayage duties, she had to take care of normal people responsibilities now – like money, for example. Spike's money would eventually run out. What she had left might last for a couple of months, at least, so she really did have to get off her ass and started looking for a job. The thought of her short stint in the Doublemeat Palace left a bad taste in her mouth.

Any job would most definitely be an improvement to that experience.

She faced the mirror to work on her hair. She thought about the decisions she made before, determined to make it right this time. With a resolve face that rivaled Willow's, she glared at her reflection and inwardly declared, I'm gonna have my cake, and eat it too!

She paused briefly. But before I get to the cake-eating part, I gotta get IDs and stuff. She sighed, panic and determination rivaled within.

What would Willow do? Willow, before she became uber-witchy, used to spend time hacking government websites and databases. She tried to teach the basics to Buffy, but it was way too technical for her to understand. However, there was one lesson Buffy did remember. What better time to test it than now? Besides, I'm all out of options.

Good thing it didn't require any hacking skills.

"Hello, is this the Los Angeles County? I'm looking for the County Recorder." Buffy waited while her call was transferred.

As soon as she heard another voice speak from the other end, Buffy greeted in an overly bright tone. "Hi! This is Buffy Summers." She flipped her hair, getting into character. "I was, like, thinkin'... I know right? Anyway, I was thinking is there a way I can get a copy of my birth certificate? You see, I had that one copy, but then I lost it. There was this fire and my things got caught up, and most of it's just wet and stuff, then my dad started going on and on about responsibility and whatever..." Buffy paused, "Yeah, that's Elizabeth Anne Summers. My friends call me Buffy. I so have no idea why. Anyway, I just, like, got back from the Philippines, I joined this missionary program. I know, right? And yeah, I just got back, and I have this friend who told me that her roommate knows a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a casting director who can get me into one of those infomercials? I so wanted to be an actress since I was, like, five. My dad didn't want me to get, like, my hopes up. He was totally wiggy and I was like, Daddy, chill okay? But my mom was all, Buffy, you're so pretty you can do anything you want. I so totally get that. My mom is so super cool and stuff, you know? So I was thinking..." Buffy was prepared to ramble on, but then she smiled triumphantly. They were sending her birth certificate as soon as she sends the money order.

She quickly gave the hotel's address for the shipment then began gushing at the person on the other end. "Oh, thank you so much! I wish I could just go through this line and kiss you! This is awesome! Thanks again! Bye!"

Wow, that was easier than I thought. Buffy flopped on the bed, staring at the ceiling, catching her breath after that long ramble. Rambling was hard work. Most people just don't appreciate a good ramble anymore.

The guy said she can expect her copy to arrive within the week. Once she has it, she could work on getting a license and social security.

Buffy gave a sigh of satisfaction. The morning was lookin' mighty better now.

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Wow, that looks... majorly tacky. Buffy stared up at the imposing height of the Stark Tower. Man, overcompensating much?

Her morning stroll led her back to the same electronics store, this time to finally get herself a cellphone. She figured she'll need one when she goes jobhunting soon. The geeky tech person from the store also set her up with internet access using her phone so she could use it to search for work.

It was a beautiful day. A cool breeze gently tousled her hair as she lifted her face to the sun. This feeling of carefree happiness was almost alien to her, having lived in constant fear and heartache. She let her feet decide where to wander off and take in the sights and sounds of New York City. She realized this was the first time she's ever set foot outside Sunnydale's town limits.

The world IS round, Buffy. There are other places other than Sunnydale. Or Los Angeles.

She found herself staring at one of the tallest buildings in the city. Maybe it could be the tallest, Buffy had no idea. It was right across the street from a charming little restaurant. A seating hostess led her to a small outdoor table, which allowed her to enjoy the morning sun while she indulged in people watching.

Buffy sighed happily, glancing down at the menu the hostess handed her. She traced her finger on the cutlery, then opened it to scan the contents. A smiling waitress named Beth, as shown on her nametag, approached and asked if she was ready to order.

"So, are you hoping to see him?" Beth grinned conspiratorially.

Buffy raised an eyebrow, "I'm sorry?" She asked, confused.

"Ironman. He usually flies through here to get to the top of the tower." Beth confided. "That's why most people choose to eat here."

"Oh. Okay." Buffy had no idea who this Ironguy was. "Actually, I've been walking around the city, exploring and getting comfortable. I just moved here a few days ago, so everything's still pretty... overwhelming." Buffy tried to smile, but to her horror, she felt her eyes welling up. She kept talking, trying to distract herself. "I'm thinking I might have to start looking for a job real soon. Although I'm not really sure I'm qualified for anything. I did work in a fastfood restaurant for a few months. And that diner in LA. I really have to find a job soon, I don't think I'd be able to... keep, uh... with the spending..." Buffy realized she was rambling, definitely not a good sign. Avoiding the waitress' reaction, she buried her nose once more in the menu. "Uh... I think I'll have the garden burger and an iced tea, please." She felt her cheeks turned red.

"That's a good choice, sweetie." Beth looked at her thoughtfully. She instinctively knew this girl suffered a raw deal. Her eyes gave her away. They looked old and world weary. She felt her heart go out to this young woman, who obviously needed a break from whatever her life was like. Her notepad and pencil tucked in her apron pocket, she smiled at the blushing blonde and excused herself for a minute, heading straight for her manager's office. She had an idea that could help out this poor stranger.

Buffy sat staring into space, her mind preoccupied with memories of the past. She missed those carefree days back in Sunnydale High – research nights, facing the next big bad together, hanging out at Giles' apartment. It was a fun time, without all the drama that happened once they stepped into college. Then came the First and Caleb... Boy, that was on the opposite side of fun.

Her mood took a dark turn as her thoughts went back to Dawn, her friends and the potentials. With the initial shock worn off, she allowed herself to slowly process the events that led to her confrontation with The First's main man. There was no use thinking about what-ifs, could-bes, and should-haves.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Buffy gave a mental shrug. If they hadn't kicked her out... if she wasn't pulled out from heaven... if her mom hadn't died... if Dawn was never created... if Faith hadn't gone rogue... if Angel hadn't lost his soul... I have to focus on *this* timeline. That part of my life is done. Finished. Roll the credits. Exit stage left.

Her brain accepted the reality of her fate, but her heart... not so much. It still had a hard time getting caught up with the sudden plot twist. A part of her found it difficult to let go, to turn her back against everything – family, friends, memories...

Her entire life.

I've lived longer than most slayers, and at least I can say I've had more than some girls ever hoped for. She fiddled with the cutlery, trying to smooth the table napkin. I'll just have to find a way to live in this new world. Maybe try and get a bit of slaying done on the side. She grinned to herself. In some way, it helped that she bumped into Riley and his friends. It gave her a small measure of comfort that maybe there were others from her old life still somewhere in this strange new world. She wasn't feeling quite alone anymore.

"Hey," A familiar male voice called out from behind, "Buffy, right? Fancy seeing you here." Steve tapped gently on her shoulder, grinning happily as he sat next to her.

"Hey, Steve." Buffy smiled back. She glanced behind her, "Are you with someone? What are you doing here?"

"I was just in the neighborhood, trying to feel my way around the city. Everything still feels strange to me." He admitted, reaching for the menu. "Is it okay if I join you?"

"Yeah, sure." She grinned, relieved at the distraction.

"I haven't had a bite to eat. I was feeling restless, and my apartment isn't exactly the most comfortable of places." Steve gestured at a passing waitress. "What did you get?"

"Oh, uh... the garden burger and iced tea?" It came out as a question.

Steve closed the menu and handed it to the waitress, "I'll have what she's having, but make it two burgers. And could you add a plate of chilli fries? Thanks."

Their eyes met. Steve chuckled nervously. Buffy leaned on the table, curiousity in her voice,"So... why did you say everything feels strange? Aren't you supposed to be from New York?"

Steve stammered, "Oh, uh, yeah. I already told you I'm from Brooklyn, right? I just meant, New York is... you know... such a big city, and I've been away for a long time. Traveling."

"Traveling, huh?" Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Where?"

"Uh, Germany?" Steve chuckled nervously. "Spent a lot of time backpacking there."

"Really? You've been backpacking across Western Europe?" Buffy asked deadpan.

"Uh... yeah, sure." Steve coughed. "Some army buddies of mine took me camping, and skiing... yeah. And there was a train, we rode a train. To... to, uh..."

Buffy giggled, "I'm just messing with you, Steve, or should I say, " She lowered her voice, "Captain America?"

"You knew?" He gave her a pained look. "And you let me ramble on?"

"Well, duh! Agent Finn already told me back at the gym. Besides, like I always say, people just don't appreciate a good ramble nowadays." Her bright smile lit up her youthful face. She winked, "It's not as if your super soldier project is still classified. They're even planning to have an exhibit about you and your Howling Commandos at the Smithsonian in DC." Her eyes danced with laughter, "Tell me. How does it feel to be a superhero, Cap?"

"Very funny, Summers. You should talk." He shot back. "With your incredible fighting skills, I'm surprised SHIELD hasn't recruited you yet."

"Shield? Is that some sort of Superhero organization you have here?"

Steve gave her a strange look, "You could probably say that. They've been recruiting several individuals with specific skill sets. I've been told it has to do with global security."

"Global security? Sounds hokey to me." Buffy joked.

"Yeah, I guess it does." He chuckled.

"Well, according to Riley, mutants exist in this world. So it shouldn't be a stretch to have a superhero organization, like this Shield, in the works." She frowned slightly, thoughts of her cliff-jumping friend came to mind. Maybe he was a mutant?

WAIT. Am I one in this universe?

"I don't know much about mutants, but SHIELD did recruit The Hulk. From what I've heard, he might be one." Steve commented. "Have you met other mutants?"

"Hmmm..." She said, distracted. Time for a topic change. "So, Cap, what have you been up to lately?"

He blinked. "You mean, since that time at the gym? Not much, I'm afraid. Been staring at some old case files at home. It's harder to distract yourself when you've got nothing going on." He grinned sheepishly. "With most of my buddies retired and happily married, I haven't gone out much."

"No girlfriend?" She teased.

"Would you believe I just had my... er, second kiss right before I crashed into the arctic?" He gave her an embarrassed look. Buffy's heart warmed at his shy smile.

'Seriously?"

"Seriously. I wasn't into the dating scene much back then." He had a faraway look on his eyes. "Bucky was the ladies' man, not me. He kept setting me up on these dates, but I just wasn't interested."

Buffy chuckled, "I can't imagine you having trouble finding dates."

Steve gave her a bewildered look, "I was a scrappy kid. I wasn't..."

"So?" She countered. "That doesn't mean you're undateable. My friend Xander, one of the dorkiest guys I know, managed to date one of the most popular girls in high school." She shrugged, "He could have done better, but you know how love can be... strange."

Steve laughed softly, "Yeah, I get that. Love can be strange. How about you? Any tall mysterious men I should be watching out for?"

Faces of the men who made up her chaotic lovelife since she became a Slayer flashed before her eyes. It was a relief not to deal with all that drama anymore.

"Nah, I'm happy as a clam being single and ready to mingle." Oh god, I didn't just say that, did I? Talk about cheesy lines! Buffy felt her cheeks go beet red.

"I'm not sure about being ready to mingle, but to be honest, I'm still working on trying to absorb everything. A lot has happened in seventy years. I have to figure out how to start over." Steve admitted. "My mind is having a hard time catching up."

"Yeah, you and me both. I've got a lot on my plate too, and romance hasn't even cracked my top ten. But yeah, I totally get that."

Steve gave her a skeptical look. "You do?"

"Really, I do! Well, obviously, not the being-frozen-for-seventy-years part, because hello! But I do know what you're going through. More so than you might realize, Rogers." She scowled at him. "I know a thing or two about feeling lost in a world that has moved on without you. And yeah, I know that losing five months is nothing compared to losing seventy years, not to mention the emotional trauma and the confusing timelines but still...""

Steve stared at her, "You lost five months?" He frowned. "Were you frozen too?"

Oops. "Uhhh... not really." She shook her head. There was no simple way to explain how Willow managed to raise her back from the dead. "You could say I decided on getting an early retirement. Only, my job wasn't through with me just yet. So they needed to bring me back. Whether I wanted to or not. And it didn't matter that I was all zen and peaceful and happy. They needed me back so they brought me back. They brought me back to the job, not like I was raised from the dead or anything." Buffy added hastily. God! Could you be more obvious?!

"Sounds... hokey." They both chuckled at that. He could tell she wasn't being entirely truthful, but something held him back from pressing the issue.

Before he could comment any further, Beth the waitress brought their orders. As she carefully placed their food on the table, she glanced at Buffy, "Oh, by the way, if you're still looking for work, we've got an opening for a waitress. We're seriously understaffed, with all these people coming in just to get a glimpse of Mr. Stark."

"Ironman." Steve added when he noted Buffy's blank expression.

"Iron-who?" Buffy asked, still confused. She sounded like she lived under a rock. This Ironguy seemed like a big deal. "Oh, Ironman." She nodded in feigned understanding.

"So, how about it?" Beth grinned expectantly at her. "The pay's good and we've got healthcare."

Buffy looked searchingly at Beth's earnest expression. "Why are you doing this? I mean... I don't mean to sound ungrateful or anything..."

"Don't worry, I know this is a bit sudden." Beth reassured her. "But I've been where you are now. I also chose to try my luck in the city. So far, it's been working out for me and my little boy." She gave Buffy an encouraging look. "Somebody helped me once when I first moved here. So you could say I'm paying it forward."

"That's really nice of you... Beth." Steve read her nameplate. "Not a lot of people will go out of their way to help out a stranger." He smiled warmly at her.

Beth blushed. "It... It's nothing. So what do you say?"

Buffy looked at her, her eyes shining, "Well, I say, call me Buffy. And thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."

"Great! I'll go tell Mike right away. Oops, oh god, so so sorry. I forgot you're on a date. This can wait. God, I'm such a spaz." She laughed. "Let me talk with Mike, then we'll see you tomorrow?" Beth smiled happily, giving them a small wave as she walked away.

Buffy stared at her burger then at Steve. On cue, they burst out laughing. "That was..."

"She really does seem like a nice girl." Steve commented, digging into the chilli fries.

Buffy nodded, "Yeah. Lucky for me." They ate their lunch in companionable silence.

She observed him from the corner of her eye. He went through the motions of eating, his movements almost automaton. He could hold his own in conversations, but she noticed his eyes would sometimes have that haunted look – a very familiar haunted look. The same look that she used to see every time she looked in the mirror.

The hardest thing in this world... is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me. Her own words came back to haunt her. That whole being-raised-back-from-the-dead thing really screwed with her head, big time. Yet somehow, she knew if she confided about being in heaven to Steve, he'll be the only one who would truly understand.

Steve Rogers turned out to be quite an enigma. She read everything she could find about Captain America and his Howling Commandos. It turned out to be a fascinating read, their exploits were almost similar to her own experiences.

As for the 411 on Steve Rogers himself? Not so much. All she found were old medical records that showed his numerous conditions. Other than that, zilch. For now, Steve Rogers remained a mystery.

"Tell me some war stories, Cap. What was it like, before you were given the serum?" Buffy took a sip of her drink.

Steve almost choked on his drink, coughing as laughter filled his eyes. "War stories? Yeah, that didn't make me feel old at all." He chuckled, "Not much with the stories before I joined the army, but yeah, we've had some rough times during those days. We'd have to sleep on the ground for nights on end. There was that time my best friend was taken prisoner in one of the enemy's camps, so I had to go rescue him. We were lucky."

"In my book, first rule is: Don't die." She grinned, taking a huge bite.

He smiled back. "True. And if we did, we just had to walk it off."

"So what else?" Buffy looked interested.

"The food was... not good. No, scratch that. It was awful. This was the time when we used to boil everything. Ugh, it was horrible. Food was all tasteless and mushy."

"Well, that's a great story, grandpa!" Buffy grinned teasingly. "But what was it like fighting in a war? I mean, it was an actual war, with guns and huge tanks and human soldiers. That has gotta be intense, right?"

Steve noted she classified them as human soldiers. "Well, yeah. But you see, I chose to join that fight. I knew what I was getting into. We all knew what we were fighting for."

Buffy nodded. She knew what it was like to fight for a cause. However, in her case, fighting the good fight meant you have to face a few apocalyptic events. Still, having that moral compass can sometimes be a blessing, as well as a curse. Thinking of her last battle, a wave of melancholy swept through her heart. Sometimes, you have to stand alone and keep fighting.

Steve noticed Buffy's sudden shift in mood. He wondered what secrets hid behind those big blue eyes of hers. Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes, the corners drooped slightly when she turned pensive. Who is this woman?

He stared at her hand casually resting on the table. Her ringless hand. He noted with satisfaction. Not that he was going to try make a move on her, he's not that type of guy. He can wait. Instead, he regaled her with the funniest bootcamp mishaps he could think of, his heart warmed at the sight of her smile.

They lingered over coffee, various conversation topics flowed seamlessly along. They both felt light-hearted and happy, emotions that were few and far in between, which made it difficult to let go of.

After leaving a generous tip for Beth, Steve suggested a casual stroll by the park. That's not too pushy, right? He assured himself. Being the gentleman that he is, he held out his hand to help her up.

Buffy smiled, her eyes danced with mirth. "Thank you, kind sir." She teased.

Steve blushed, "Sorry, old habits."

"Don't be. I like it." She grinned. Their eyes met, and almost instinctively, their hands connected in a loose and comfortable clasp.

As Steve escorted her across the street, Buffy felt her nape prickled with unease. Her head shot up as she quickly searched their surroundings. The Slayer within growled at the perceived threat, the familiar sensation of a vampiric presence nearby suddenly made her edgy.

Steve noticed when she stiffened, automatically wrapped his arm around her shoulders while his senses went on high alert. "What's wrong? What happened?"

She saw him just as they reached the other side. She recognized that patch of bleached hair anywhere. Her eyes widened as the sight of those familiar blue eyes set her heart pounding. In fear.

Spike?

It can't be. How...?

"Spike" was fully garbed in his signature black leather duster and DMs, smirked as he held her stare. Steve glanced at the direction Buffy was focused at, a confused look on his face, "Who is that? An old friend?"

Buffy murmured absently, "You could say that." She doubted this was her Spike. His pale skin glistened under the sun's glare – and wasn't ashed down by its rays. His eyes burned with ice-cold hatred, so intense that Buffy shivered involuntarily. One thing she was definitely sure of – he was still a full-on master vampire.

Steve tightened his hold on her, reacting instinctively at the way this stranger kept staring at Buffy. Just as he was about to take a threatening step towards the bold stranger, a city bus sped past across the street, briefly broke their eye contact. The moment the bus moved on, Spike was gone.

Buffy took a deep breath then turned to Steve, "Let's go. I made a mistake. That wasn't my friend, after all."

Steve nodded, although his eyes reflected his doubts.

She kept her eyes in front of her, Steve's warm hand enveloped hers comfortingly.

It couldn't have been Spike. The Spike of this dimension wouldn't have known about her. But how could you hate someone that much without knowing them in the first place?

What the hell is going on here?

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"Agent Finn."

Riley jumped to his feet as soon as Director Fury entered the office. His hand snapped in a salute.

Fury glanced at him before going behind his desk, "At ease, soldier. Take a seat. Now," He leaned back on his leather chair, hands clasped in front. "... would you mind telling me how the hell you're connected with a certain... Miss Elizabeth Summers?"

"Huh?" Riley gave him a blank look.

"Buffy. I think she goes by 'Buffy.'" He snorted derisively.

"Oh, that girl from the gym?" Riley commented thoughtfully, "She was a bit peculiar, but..."

"Peculiar, you say?" Fury straightened, looked interested.

"Yes sir. At first I suspected she might be one of those mutants, but then..."

The Director raised an eyebrow, "Mutant? How so?"

"Sir, she was benchpressing 400 lbs with 55 reps. For somebody who probably weighed less than a hundred, that was incredible."

Fury sat back silently, deep in thought. He stared at Riley, his gaze cold and calculating. So this girl has mad skills to take down this soldier, and the strength to probably rival my super soldier. Interesting.

Riley was beginning to feel uncomfortable. He started to shift in his seat when the Director suddenly spoke, "I need you to do something for me, Agent Finn."

He blinked at the sudden request. "Yes, sir."

"I want you to find everything you can about Buffy Summers. I want to know where she lives, where she eats, where she shops, or whether she has a cat or a dog. I want to know where she spends most of her day, where she goes at night, if she has a boyfriend or a girlfriend. I want to know where she's from, who her parents are, who her best friend from kindergarten was, her favorite book and whatever secrets you could find. Everything." Fury's eyes almost glowed with manic determination. "Agent Finn, did you get that?"

Riley nodded slowly, his mind racing at the implications of this order, and what the consequences might be for questioning such an order.

"I said," Fury repeated slowly, "Agent Finn, did you get that?"

"Sir, yes, sir. I'll do my best, sir."

"Good." Fury suddenly smiled, his manner relaxed and congenial. "I would like to know if this woman is a friendly or not. We're on the brink of a global conflict, now that Phase 2 is underway. We might need all the allies that we could get."

Riley fought to keep his face impassive. Phase 2?

Fury nodded at him, "Dismissed." With that, he turned his back on the agent.

The SHIELD agent shot to his feet, and immediately strode to the door. Looked like he had a lot of work to do.

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I was right. Everything about that girl WAS peculiar.

Riley stood at one end of an alley, typical city noise surrounded him as he remained still. Pungent smells of mixed urine and garbage reached his nose, his eyes watered at the offensive scents. Ugh, so this is where she came from?

His search initially led him supposedly to Buffy's parents, Hank and Joyce Summers, a wealthy couple who lived in a sprawling mansion in Los Angeles. It took several tries but he finally managed to get a video conference call with the two. Evidently, money is never enough to buy happiness - they were in the middle of divorce negotiations, which made his request to talk with them together a bit awkward.

Wading through the nasty sniping and whining between the couple, Riley uncovered one disturbing truth – Elizabeth "Buffy" Summers was dead. Has been dead for seven years, in fact. She was a victim of an animal attack, from what her distraught mother revealed. This led to another round of shouting, blaming and cursing. Riley bit back his tongue, no need to get into all that drama.

Marriage really isn't for everybody. He thought cynically. He hastily said his goodbyes and hung up.

He got what he came for – a solid lead. With the help from one of SHIELD's tech agents, they found bits and pieces of the dead Buffy's life that could help his investigation. The photo they uncovered did resemble the woman Riley met at the gym, although there were slight differences. He still haven't found an answer on why she managed to wipe the floor with his backside.

Who is this woman?

Determined to find out who this Buffy really was, Riley turned to surveillance cameras to trace her whereabouts. After scanning through hours of videos using facial recognition software, Riley found a recent footage of her dining with somebody at a restaurant right across from Stark Tower. The man she was with looked vaguely familiar. Too bad the cameras failed to capture his face.

Moving backwards to trace Buffy's steps, he finally scored a hit and found that she was in Brooklyn. The surveillance tapes showed that she went inside an electronics store, then to a place called Winsington Hotel. This time, Riley decided for a more hands-on approach.

Nobody at the store recognized Buffy when Riley showed them her picture, but the hotel receptionist admitted that Buffy did stay there for a few days, but had just recently checked out. She paid in cash. Cash meant no paper trail.

A quick call from the tech agent, Zachary, helping him granted him another clue. Prior to the hotel, the tapes revealed she came from a nondescript clinic, just a few blocks from Winsington.

Riley quickly made his way towards the clinic. Luckily, he was able to talk to a resident doctor, a Dr. Peter Carter. He confirmed that Buffy came through their doors a few weeks ago and that he himself was the one who treated her. After heavy persuasion and veiled threats, Dr. Carter finally agreed to show Riley her patient record. Unfortunately, it proved of little help. It just had the basic information that they already have about this woman. Although it was helpful to know that she was treated for a couple of broken ribs, a broken arm and minor cuts and bruises. Looked like she was in a hell of a fight.

Wonder how the other guy looked like.

Zachary informed him that further backtracking showed Buffy emerged from an alley before she entered the clinic. Walked with a limp and obviously wounded.

Which is why he's been standing in this alley for the past half hour, silently observing the floors and walls for clues. Limping and wounded might mean blood evidence. He needed another lead, surveillance footage finally came up empty after this point.

"Are you sure I'm in the right alley?" Riley demanded.

"Definitely sure, sir." Zachary's voice squawked from the receiver.

Riley ran a hand through his hair in frustration, "I don't see anything that could help us find... oh, hello." He started to walk forward with cautious steps.

"Sir? What happened? Did you see something?"

There were no blood. No evidence of fighting or scuffle of any kind. What caught his eye as he walked into the small street was more significant than anything he could every find.

He slowly knelt down on one knee, staring at the strange charred rune-like markings on the ground. Markings reminiscent of a certain Asgardian's transport of choice.

He once heard Agent Coulson mentioned the Bifrost burned the ground it touched.

"Zachary? Get me Director Fury. Right now." Riley gingerly touched the burn marks. He shook his head, grinned in amusement. "I was right. That girl was definitely peculiar."

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A/N: See what I did there? A slight nod to Joey's Europe story. Yep, I'm a FRIENDS fan.
I promise, next chapter will have a bit more action.