The morning after was never joyous. Bruised, bumps, abrasions... all were part of the slayer hangover. Of course, having a team of doctors, nurses, and physical therapists... now that was different. IT had been a week of the new life, and despite the unusual circumstances, Buffy was feeling pretty good, or at least she had been.
"Mrs. Summers, can you raise your right arm for me?" said an officious nurse with a heavy frame and pleasant smile.
"Look, It's fine... seriously, my mom's old boyfriend hits harder-", she stopped herself realizing just how pathetic that sounded.
"Don't worry, we're all very proud of you." Said the young nurse, as she smiled and continued her work.
"Thanks, but I'll be ok, I just need a moment-" Buffy her eyes glowing a moment and then trying again to assert that she was fine.
"Can you stop moving your head please, it'll affect the scans-" Said a doctor standing behind her with an odd looking scanner.
"Umm.. is that really-" Buffy said, her level of comfort with the invasion dropping as she saw the silhouette of her skull and brain on the a screen in front of another set of doctors.
"Good news, your blood oxygen level is back to normal parameters!" said a second cheery male nurse to the side of the first reading and instrument panel.
"Uh, thank you?" Buffy said trying to treat the news as an awkward compliment.
"Now your glucosamine, while abnormally high, aren't where we want them to be-" He pulled out a syringe.
"You know that's not really," Buffy said quickly looking at the long needle with a mixture of concern and fear.
"Don't forget we need a tissue sample as well, might as well get it all done while we're-
"Wait a minute-" Buffy started to squirm visibly in the medical bed. Her black tactical gear was still on, but this was a more form fitting outfit, allowing the medical team to study her in detail.
"That'll be all everyone." Said Ms. Post, who had entered with concerned look upon her face. She wore a proficient white blouse, with a red business skirt, and her glasses, ever present dangling from to thin golden chains. Her hair and makeup were immaculate, which made Buffy wonder, how with one hand she was able to still look amazing at all hours of the day.
Promptly, all the medical professional's turned and left. It was off-putting, because they literally dropped everything and left without so much as a goodbye. Buffy sat up, relieved at their move, but concerned by their utter lack of concern.
"Wow... I wish they did that for me." Buffy said succinctly.
"Yes, our medical team can be a bit, overwhelming, can't they. Are you alright?"
"Me, I'm fine. Nothing a little shopping and a large cup of coffee couldn't fix. And..." Buffy trailed off.
"Yes, I promised you time off didn't I." Ms. Post grinned at her slayer with her trademark guile.
"It's not just that...those demons... last night. They didn't-" She struggled to find the words.
" You made short work of the enemy. Your abilities have certainly improved, I suspect that made it feel all too easy."
"But... they barely even fought back it was like... wham blam... no time to say ma'am. It felt-" Buffy made fist, then released realizing for an instant something was amiss.
"I think you're right. You need... a break" Ms. Post replied.
"Come again?" Buffy couldn't believe her ears.
"You need a break. Even a slayer in her prime needs a night off, follow me." Ms Post instructed, walking out of the lab room.
"Hey, you know me, I'm all about the slay-age, the training, the tutoring, and the demony secret missions in the dead of night... but a night not being stocked by evil? That wouldn't suck." Buffy said following closely behind her female watcher.
"Then a night you shall have. What will you do?" The entered the small attached garage.
"Shopping, or maybe a movie, or I don't know I might go crazy and get a tattoo... like that one." She pointed out the one rebellious mark on Ms Post, a diminutive marking in the shape of an eight pointed star. Ms Post ignored Buffy, opening a door to the small attached garage, and switching on a light. There a red convertible sat, its gleaming headlights and chrome trim shining under the incandescent lights of the small garage.
"No...no way!?" Summers was nearly about to scream.
"No way," Ms Post responded bluntly, opening the door and retrieving her purse from what was now clearly her car. Buffy's face dropped.
"...I guess I'd need to have my license first."
"Indeed. Now, tell your driver to make sure you are back by two. Even Slayer's need a bed time." Ms. Post said as she looked through her bag.
"Wait... two? Two as in two seconds or two as in...?"
" 'Two' AM of course..." Ms Post clarified with a grin.
"Seriously? Is this a test? Aren't you going to do some long lecture about responsibility and maturity?"
"Buffy, you might be a 17 and half year old to world, but in reality your far more mature then most people three times your age. You fight and destroy evil, and you've saved the world at least twice. The least the world can do is treat you as an adult. You are a slayer, the normal rules don't apply to you... remember that. How is that for a lecture." The woman said with a sly smile.
Ms. Post pulled two small cards from her discreet purse. A nearly perfect fake license that had Buffy's face, and an age of 22. The other was a silver looking credit card. She handed them both to Buffy.
"Ok... Ms. Post, you win, you're officially the coolest person in California. Totes' in the running for the world..." Buffy was nearly out the door of the darkly lit garage.
"Goodness... such an honor." Ms. Post responded with less enthusiasm then the moment called for. Now that's a two thousand dollar limit, and be sure not to spend it all, that's all for this week. And Buffy... remember, we're so proud of you." Ms Post said clearly, Buffy responded, and her eyes glowed blue once more, as she left the room eager to get her day started.
...
The front door closed behind the young slayer, and Ms. Post stood still a moment. Once she heard the slam of the car door, she moved to the living room and next to the large wolf painting on the wall. Touching the frame, a door appeared and slid aside.
Inside a small desk sat with a small desk covered with magical texts. A nearby monitor snapped on, where another woman sat with a large office behind her.
"I have to say... you been really successful...so far."The woman looked at her with an air of admiration.
"She will ultimately succeed, what about your promise Lilah?" Ms Post asked swiftly.
"Not until all conditions have been met. This will be a huge win for me, and for you." Lilah said with a silky smooth reply.
"And then?" Ms Post replied nervously.
"Then you will have exactly what was promised. You'll be pleased...trust me. I'm sending the second candidate to test your little chosen one. Have her ready." The woman said flicking her fingers and disappearing.
...
In the car, her driver was quiet as usual. Buffy pulled the small cellphone from her pocket, gifted her weeks earlier. She'd hidden it because of a fragment of an extinct she'd had. She stared at it, wondering at how distant everything seemed. She was tempted to call someone, someone she knew, someone who missed her, but as the car rounded a bend, she hesitated. Did someone like that exist? She could see fragments of faces, parts of names, but nothing was clear. It was almost like she couldn't remember anything other then being where she was. There was just Ms. Post... and the work... and...Gunn? Gunn!
She punched a few buttons, and there it was... the only number she didn't have to remember.
