AN: Sorry for such a long wait. (I know a lot of people say that, but I am truly sincere.) School, work, no internet, absent mind...
Anywho... here's what you get for waiting... MASSIVE UPLOADS! If there is anything wrong with them, let me know and I'll fix them asap! Thanks for reading!

Buffy felt relief when she screamed. Not only was she killing these evil things, but it was also a good stress reliever. She didn't want Riley to kiss her earlier, but what was she supposed to do? Oh, yeah. Pretend to like him, and not Spike. She hadn't really been shocked that he was in the clock tower, too, but she was surprised that he had simultaneously found out about her calling. Should be fun. She hurried back to Giles' where everyone was talking happily, and Xander, of course, was calling the pizza place for a few victory pizzas. Thankfully, Spike wasn't around. She couldn't bear to see him right now. Not hearing his voice for so long was driving her crazy.

She tried to smile and chat with her friends, but on the inside, she was hurting terribly. Willow caught her eye and gave her a sympathetic smile, understanding and knowing what she was going through. It wasn't long before the pizzas were there, and Buffy and Willow soon left for their dorm.

"So, what happened?" Willow asked, not referring to the take down of the Gentlemen.

"Well, I got in to town, and there were a couple guys starting to fight. Riley broke them up. Then, he kissed me."

"He kissed you! Oh, wow, Buffy that's great!"

"It was okay... I mean he's a nice kisser, but I never realized how tall he was. I sorta felt like he was swallowing me. Like his body is so much bigger than mine, and I kinda felt suffocated."

"Oh... But it was nice, right?"

"It was okay. I've had better," she said, reminiscing on the kiss Spike had given her just a few days earlier.

"So, did you two talk about the Slayer, commando thing?"

"Nope. Kinda had to split right after."

"I'm sure it'll come up," Willow smiled, hoping anything would ease her friend's mood.

It came up the next morning to be exact, and it didn't go particularly well.

...

It didn't take much convincing from Spike to persuade Giles to let him have his own "place." He already knew which one he was going to pick, seeing as he had already done it before. 'S gonna get old, he thought. He and Buffy hadn't spoken since the Gentlemen fiasco. Sure, she had said "Thanks,'" but that had been it. Frankly, he didn't blame her. He was glad she stayed away. Sometimes. He deeply missed being in his own time. He missed their casual talks, among other things. He also missed Dawn. The Nibblet hadn't been created yet, and when he thought about it too in depth, it just gave him a headache. But she existed in his time, and that was enough for him. That silly, little 15-year-old had been his reason for living while Buffy had... been away.

He sighed as he paced his "new" crypt. He was curious to when Giles would become a Fyral. Wonder if I should warn him? Nah. Might change something. 'Sides, he didn't hurt anyone... Dammit... Why didn't I keep up with this stuff? he thought, mentally kicking himself. Then, he had an idea. Smiling to himself, he searched one of his boxes for a pen and paper he stole from Xander, and he began to write.

...

It had been a month and a half since she had spoken to him. Sure, she had seen him around, and she had felt from while patrolling, but she never said anything. She didn't exactly know what to say. Hey, I'm sorry Riley kissed me. Sorry I'm pretending to be with him when I really wanna be with you. "Yeah. That's smart," she said sarcastically to herself. She was walking through one of the cemeteries, twirling Mr. Pointy, when six fledglings surrounded her. "Really, guys?" she asked, slowly shifting into her fighting stance. "Tonight? Not really in the mood."

"Oh, poor Slayer," one mocked.

"And you, my friend, will be the last one to go," she gleamed. As if on cue, four of them charged for her, each one going for their own specified target. The leader grabbed her torso, trying to tackle her, while the other three grabbed her arms and a leg. Although they were struggling to hold their own, Buffy just smiled. "Ya know, you really should have tried for my other leg," she said. And with that, she swung her free leg up, kicking the leader in the head, causing him and the one hanging on her right arm to reel backwards. In two swift movements, the other two hanging on her were dust.

"Why don't you just give up Slayer? It's four against one," one of them said, attempting to taunt her.

"Clearly you don't know me very well," she smiled as she kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying into a nearby tree, efficiently staking him. The last three charged once again, as if they hadn't learned a thing from watching the other two. "You guys really aren't that smart," she said, her breathing beginning to become labored. She grabbed two of them that got to her first and smashed their heads together, dazing them quickly. Before they could react, she staked them both within a split second. "Told you," she said to the last one, the one who had spoken first just minutes before. He smiled, sort of, and turned quickly, trying to get away. She sighed and picked up a nearby stick. She violently, but fluidly, hurled it at his back and was satisfied as she watched him dissipate.

She picked up her trusty stake, slipped it into the waist of her pants, and continued on her way. Ten yards away a small group—of the human variety—were hiding behind a rather large shrub. "She's impressive," a short blond woman commented.

"I told you. No one else like her. She's special," Riley Finn said proudly.

"Hmm, yes. Bring her by in the next couple days," Maggie Walsh said, turning from him and toward her military grade truck.

"Yes ma'am," he said, almost giddy.

...

"Are you sure about this?" Riley asked, looking hopeful into Buffy's bright green eyes.
"Yes," she nodded, trying her hardest to look happy and encouraging.
"Because we don't have to if you don't want to..." he pushed, trying to make sure she was sure.
"Riley, let's do this," she smiled, hiding her quick irritability.
"Okay, here we go," he said, turning from her and facing the giant mirror on the wall. A voice spoke as a green light scanned them.
"Special Agent Finn, Riley. New identification for Summers, Buffy," the automated voice sounded.
"Neat," Buffy said quietly.
"Oh, just wait 'til you see everything. Everything down here, it's amazing. Really," he said confidently as the elevator began descending.
"I believe you," she said, smiling and nodding appropriately.
"Vocal confirmation affirmed. Welcome, Riley Finn and Buffy Summers." The doors slid open to show the massive underground laboratory that was The Initiative.
"Wow," she said automatically, then realizing he'd want to hear something other than that. "It's big. I mean, you said it was big, but you never said it was huge!" She winced internally, realizing how bad that sounded. She could just blame it on her teenage brain.
"Yeah," he grinned. "And here's someone you might recognize. Buffy,-"

"Professor Walsh?" she questioned as she shook the woman's hand.
"Hello, Buffy," Professor Walsh said, returning the handshake. "My, quiet a grip you have there." The small woman subtly shook and squeezed her now hurt hand.
"Sorry. Comes with the Slayer-strength," Buffy shrugged.
"Yes, the infamous Slayer. I'd heard about them, but I believed it to be a myth," Walsh said, holding her clipboard up as they began walking around the laboratory.
"Well, you were myth-taken," Buffy chuckled at her lame joke.
"Yes, well..." Walsh coughed, ignoring the awkward silence followed by the joke as she tried ignoring the looks her best soldier was sending this small girl. Peculiar, he said. Well, now we know it wasn't all her being strange. She's the "Slayer." She's "special." I hate the words already, she thought angrily. Her expression was flat as they walked as she occasionally mentioned an area of the lab.
"What's in there?" Buffy asked, pointing to the off-limits door that was strictly for her and the other high ranked doctors.
"That is classified. Out-of-bounds to those who are not permitted," she said in a stern voice.

"Oh," Buffy said in a small voice. Definitely worth checking out. If they're hiding anything, it'll be in there. "So have you ever had anyo—anything break out of here?" she asked, hoping to sound curious and not prying.
"Ye-" Riley began.

"No," Walsh interrupted. "There have been several attempts, but none that have completely escaped."
"Ma'am, what about Hostile 17?" Riley asked, looking utterly confused.
"Oh, yes. That pesky blond bloodsucker."
God, she sounds like Xander... Buffy thought.
"Yes, he managed to escape, but I thought your team had brought him down?" she questioned, obviously switching from 'Hi, I'm your friend' to 'listen up, I'm saying something important, and you better be listening and responding accordingly.'
"No, ma'am. Several have spotted him, but they were unable to bring him down."
"What was the reason?"
"They were civies, ma'am. None had the equipment available," he said. Buffy saw Riley, Iowa boy, teacher's assistant run for cover as Agent Finn emerged.
I guess a lot of people have double lives, Buffy thought as she saw it happen throughout the area. Men that were at ease next to each other came to attention as Walsh passed them. "So you haven't seen... Hostile 17? lately?" Buffy asked, hoping her fear would be quenched.
"Not in days," Riley grimaced, even though that was the answer Buffy was happy to hear.
"Oh... I'll keep my eye out, then," she nodded with a smile, hoping they would believe her.
"It's funny," Walsh said as they stopped in front of a set-up of screens. "Whenever he was caught, he blamed it on 'the Slayer.'"
"On me? Well, I do come in contact with quite a few vampires. It's kinda my calling. 'The one girl who is called to fight the forces of evil.' I'm Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. So, yeah. kinda what I do." Oh, I really hope they bought that... she thought nervously.
"He seemed like he knew you. Kept saying things one would assumed that."

"You know what happens when you assume," Buffy huffed, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, well, is there anything you needed, Doctor Walsh? It's getting late, and we need to do our rounds," Riley cut in.
"That's fine. I'll see you tomorrow at 0800. Good-bye Buffy. Don't forget about class tomorrow."

"Ten o'clock sharp," Buffy said. Riley practically pushed her into the elevator that led to the fraternity house. "Well, that wasn't so bad."
"Uh, yeah," Riley laughed, almost sarcastically.
"You don't sound so convinced?" she asked, suddenly concerned with the last encounter.
"It's—uh—it's been a while since I've seen Professor Walsh that upset," he said as they walked through the doors.
"Oh, God. I annoyed her, didn't I? She hates me now, doesn't she? God, I knew this would happen..." Buffy rambled. I screwed everything up. This is bad. Bad Buffy... Almost blew cover. They both stopped in the hall, both eager to move on but in different ways.
"No, no, Buffy. She doesn't hate you. She's just... probably not as trusting as I am," he said, trying subconsciously to move her towards his room.
"Oh... Well, I best get going. Lots of baddies out there, meaning lots of work for me," Buffy said, swinging around him to get to the stairs.
"I can come with—"

"No, it's fine. I'm just going to do a quick sweep. Like you said it's late, and we have class early." She knew she should be expert with excuses, but this one sounded lame even to her.
"Okay," he said, completely crestfallen.
"I'll see you tomorrow though," she said, still hoping like her fake interest was enough to keep her in with the commandos. Looks like he'll still fall for my bull, she thought, happy to be out of the musky house. Something about it always gave her the hibby-jibbies.