Chapter 35 A Distration.

Like a relentless boxer, rain beat down on the city, first jabbing with sharp needles, then smacking Seattle with huge fat drops that hit like haymakers, the barrage punctuated by the ominous rumble of thunder and the eerie flash of lightning. Buffy barely felt the rain on her skin, her heart was smashed and she had no desire to feel anything for the rest of the night, maybe by the time she got home, she would be so exhausted that she could just sleep the entire night without thinking about anything. A big basket of numb is what she needed right now. That withstanding she would settle for total and complete exhaustion.

The overcast sky poured its precipitation and drenched the slayer from head to toe and she noticed she was in a familiar area but nowhere near her apartment. Before she had time to react, she was struck from behind forcing her to the ground but she twisted letting her hip take the brunt of the impact. Flipping up, she recognized what she was facing. The creature was big- but she had faced bigger. "Slayer." the creature hissed. "I'm going to bathe in your blood."

Buffy snorted, "I've been gone for twenty four years, and you guys still haven't come up with something better." She raised her eyebrow and took a fighting stance waiting for the demon to attack.

This is what Buffy needed; a feral smile came to her face, almost causing the demon to regret facing the slayer. He ran at her full force and she deflected his blows with a sweeping out of her legs causing the demon to fall back with a loud swish of the puddle that was behind him. He jumped back to his feet circling her clockwise. He attempted to catch her from the side knocking her back a couple feet and she moved her hands to protect her abdomen and he backhanded her several times before grabbing her by the arm and throwing her against some trash cans. She bounced back up, and swung with full impact to the creatures face knocking him down, the demon was so caught off guard he was barely able to do anything but accept the horrific blows the slayer was raining one after another on his face, "I'm so sick of the emotional games you guys play." Buffy spat as she continued to pound the demon's face.

The demon shook and was barely to spit out between blows and his busted mouth, "Huh?'

Buffy's unrelenting blows continued to fall, as her hits intensified with each blow, "You think just because we're pregnant that you're secure and no one else wants us."

The demon finally used his large hands to push the slayer off him, but Buffy's anger didn't dissipate an ounce while she met any hits the demon attempted to land.

Buffy continued to counter all hits until the demon aimed for her midsection and while she blocked her abdomen, it took advantage and pounded her back; he had gotten in quite a few good punches to Buffy's face.

The fight continued for at least forty minutes, the demon taking some serious blows and Buffy's face taking the brunt of the fight. The demon had received some retribution by Buffy, enough to make him back away. She was still running on steam and slowly stood as the retreating demon took the time to throw out a threat he would find her and finish this.

Buffy slowly stood her face amidst the blood was a black and blue along with a deep gash above her eye. Her hair from the fighting and weather stuck up in all directions and she had long since lost her hair tie. She dusted herself off and stood shakily. 'They could never just leave –always I'll be back or some other lame thing.'

Suddenly the melancholy of what she could possibly be facing overtook her, and she sighed with a deep wisp of breath. The demon helped keep her mind busy for awhile but she closed her eyes trying to fight off the sadness. She turned and walked slowly down the street, her papers in my backpocket just in case she had to pass through any sectors.

She had cried the entire patrolling path, her face among the bruised was still red, and her eyes were swollen. The demon however did give her a chance to release her anguish. Her tears from earlier had pretty much run their course when she ran into the demon.

Her shoulders shuddered as a fresh onslaught overtook her. Her emotions were still running pretty high, most likely that was the baby/ babies. (Dr Carr had been unable to give her a confirmation as of yet.)It was causing hormones to run feverishly through her system night and day.

When she finally was a block away from home, her face red blotched from all the tears. Her pain still dead center in her chest, like an anvil, all from loss of love; Would love ever not leave her alone and bleeding?

She fought back against the fresh tears attempting to fall and ambled along slowly when someone who she had never met stepped in front of her; he was a lean man, with a worn face. "Buffy Summers ?"

Buffy rolled her eyes with irritation, her drenched wet hair sticking to her face as well as every direction possible. "Great, what is it now?" The guy was not a watcher, which was good for him, because the way she was feeling, she was not above kicking a watchers ass too.

The tall bald man, nodded to Buffy, his face was stern but it held no contempt, "I have a message for you-" He handed Buffy a small folded over piece of paper.

Buffy wiped her face with the back of her hand, and opened the crinkled yellowed paper, when she glanced back up, the man was gone. The note read: 'been a while chosen guy- I got a bag full of solutions if you're interested. Meet me at the dock in about an hour.'

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, as a sense of relief washed over Buffy. There was only one person who could've sent the note, and he couldn't have come at a better time. He always did have a knack for knowing when she needed him and showing up out of the blue.

The ringing of the buoys rang into the night while the waves sloshed angrily against the docks; Buffy held her arms around herself and walked slowly to sit on the bench. She felt him behind her before he even spoke. "Wasn't sure you'd show?"

Buffy turned around with a grin, to the man, who she hadn't seen since before Sunnydale. "You knew I'd show, with a message like that it was either you or my 6th grade science teacher." Buffy sat beside the man on the bench facing the water. "How'd you find me?"

The older attractive man with the big brown eyes waved it off as if it was no big thing, "You know you keep your ears perked to the demon community-…" He paused just now taking in her face, she was had obviously been crying, he could discern that much amongst the bruising that would probably be gone by tomorrow, but he would leave it for now, "Pretty big news when a one of a kind slayer pops up." The man laughed softly, "Had to see for myself how Buffy the slayer was doing?"

Buffy quirked an eyebrow and gave her friend a gentle smile," You know the usual- demons, vamps, broken heart, as you recall I've always had a special knack for the last one."

The leather jacket crinkled as her friend replied with assuredness, "Yeah, you did…" He sighed deeply, "Doesn't make you any less special just… just us guys could never touch you… you were too good for me, Angel or any other guy."

Buffy turned her head to the side to her longtime friend surprised, "Heard about him did ya?" Buffy returned her face to the water while she waited to get her emotions together, " Guess I should've learned along time ago, slayers are not cut out to have certain things and that includes Love."

"But you're about to be a mom, that's pretty special news."

Buffy gasped with surprise, "Was there a newsletter about that, cause way too many people know about it." Buffy smiled genuinely tickled to see her friend but not too keen on everyone knowing her situation.

"Nah- you're glowing- its suits you and the little baby bump saw it when I dropped by the bar. So- no I promise no… newsletter."

"Good, cause I was starting to get a little wigged."

"What about the dad?"

Buffy shrugged,"Got all night- that is the million-dollar question. Once again, Buffy the train wreck strikes –falls for wrong guy - said guy turns out to be a jackass. I think I've got the whole love tragedy down to an art." Buffy admitted with a deep sigh. "What about you? We go to Vegas then I go to the loony bin and I never hear from you again what gives?"

Another chuckle followed with a waving off of hands, "Things got a little too hairy after- besides your mom told me if I came with in two feet of you she'd have me arrested for kidnapping."

"Really- go mom." Buffy laughed with a chuckle and a relieved smile.

"Hey, I'll have you know that my criminal record has gotten better over the years," Off Buffy's raised eyebrow, "Okay- but at least I don't steal from people anymore.

Buffy crossed her arms, continued to stare at her longtime friend, and then cleared her voice. But before she could whip out a sarcastic reply…the man interrupted, "Okay… so I don't as much but fighting the forces of darkness is a 24/7 job- you of all people should know that."

Buffy nodded in agreement, truth was slaying demons was a full time job and it was not a job you got paid for or came with benefits, she had lived longer than most, but that was really irrelevant at this juncture," I'll give you that, How long you in town for?"

"Couple days, gotta hang loose… can't stay in one place too long, you know how it is? Supposed to deliver some disks to some guy named Eyes only." The guy shook his backpack and winked at Buffy.

"So do you have a place to crash or just the local 'Luxuria'…cause you know you're welcome to crash at my place unless you are desperately 'Seeking Normal'?"

Pike leaned in pulling Buffy close to him, and Buffy returned his hug almost too hard, when Pike gasped out a little, Buffy released him looking a little sheepish, "Sorry…sometimes I forget bout the slayer strength thing."

Pike just pulled her back into his arms, "No problem chosen lady, well worth it," He gave her a subtle wink and stood grabbing his bag, "You lead…I follow that's how its supposed to be."

Buffy just stood and Pike followed walking beside her, while they made their way to Buffy's apartment.

Ten minutes later, she stopped outside a fairly rundown building and fished around for her keys. Finding them, she unlocked the door and gave it a bit of a shove to get it open. "Come in," she whispered in the quiet hallway. They made their way over to the stairs and he followed her up to the second floor. Stopping outside another door, he waited for her to unlock it. "Before you come in, I should warn you don't expect a lot... It's pretty basic." She looked down, her eyes suddenly feeling a little ashamed.

"Hey, apparently you don't remember Pike and the way of the waves" He chortled and Buffy returned the smile. Stepping inside her door and flipping the light switch, she held the door open for him to enter.

He looked around, she hadn't been kidding. The place was so basic. A tatty couch, with a small coffee table sat to one side of the room. He could make out a small kitchen and a bedroom off to the left and another door opposite. He figured that must be the bathroom.

Pike entered and dropped his back pack by the couch, He dropped on the couch and bounced slightly, "Perfect…it's better than my last place." He winked at Buffy and she returned a fatigued smile.

"Let me get you a blanket and then maybe wake up early for some breakfast, I'm pretty much exhausted right now." Buffy opened a door and returned a few minutes later dressed in her shorts and t-shirt. To tired, to worry about modesty, besides Pike had been her friend for a long time and she felt complete ease with him. Her hair was wrapped in a soft worn pink terrycloth towel, and while she massaged her hair to remove the wetness she tossed Pike the blanket with her other. She sighed; her eyes were heavy with fatigue, "Sorry- pregnancy been a little hard on me lately."

Pike returned the gentle grin with pity but something also hidden behind his brown eyes. "Get some sleep…and Buffy it's still good to see you."

He fluffed up his pillow and gave Buffy a tender smile before folding himself in the small couch.