Chapter 11-Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
Buffy's jeans creaked with ash. Her heart still pounded, even though the fight was long over. The walk didn't calm her down. She hadn't seen that many vampires since the Hellmouth closed, or maybe it just seemed that way. There was never a moment when she'd fought that she entertained losing, but on the long walk back to her RV, Buffy could not believe she survived.
If anything wanted to kill her, now would be the moment. The realization made her senses go into hyper-drive. She had to get to the camper. Times like these she missed the bunker, but she hadn't been able to go to it in weeks. The absence left her feeling unmoored.
Her phone buzzed against her hip. She could see the R.V. parked by the road, and ran to it fast. There was nothing above or beneath the vehicle, nobody blocking her way. She opened up the door and got inside. Out of habit she checked the whole thing before she looked at her phone. It was Dean. She smiled as she dialed him back.
"Hey, you okay?" he asked.
"Been better, but yeah. I'm good. You?"
"Surviving. We finally got Lucifer back in the cage."
"Ugh, that guy. You always think the big ones are going to be more exciting. Did I ever tell you about the time I killed Dracula?"
"Only about as many times as I told you about killing Hitler. If you got a minute, why don't you tell me what you're wearing instead."
"The collective dust of about a hundred vampires."
"You been having a rough day, huh, baby?"
Buffy took a deep breath to hold in her tears. It didn't work so great because they started slipping down her cheeks. She stared out the windshield at the dark, empty highway.
"Don't call me baby. That's what you call your car."
"What should I call you? Angel's no good for a couple different reasons."
"Why can't you just call me Buffy? My mother gave me that name." Buffy's voice cracked.
"I'm sorry, ba-Buffy. Are you okay?"
"Any word on Castiel or Dawn?" Buffy wiped her eyes.
"No. How's Xander doing?"
"Same. They haven't detected any brain function in a week."
"As soon as I finish up a few things here I'll be on the next plane."
"What are you going to do, Dean? Pawn your soul again to get my friend back? You're not going to do any good coming here."
"I can make sure you're not alone."
Buffy sobbed into the phone. Dean listened to her for a second before he continued on, gently.
"If you don't want me to come, I won't, but find somebody who can be there with you," he said.
"I want you, Dean. But if Castiel can't heal him, there can't be anything else. Xander's too good—"
"I know. I promise you, no deals, no hoodoo. Just me."
"Okay. Just you."
"Buffy, I-you're-"
"No, I get it. Feelings are hard. Show me when you get here."
Dean cleared his throat. "Right. See you soon."
"See you soon." Buffy hung up.
She took a few deep breaths to get herself under control. Buffy turned on the ignition. The headlights lit up the highway.
She put the vehicle in drive just as something huge landed on her hood. Buffy screamed. A vampire in full bumpy mode stood in the dent he made in her hood, a bloody grin on his mouth. He had on a black leather jacket studded in silver zippers and his dark hair was wild.
"Slayer, come out and play!"
"Right, like I got my sacred calling yesterday." She hit the gas and then slammed on her brakes, hurling the monster forward onto the street. Buffy angled the wheel to crush its head. After two turns the vamp was nothing at all.