A/N: Thanks to all of you who have followed and favorited. Cookies to those who left a review; you fill my heart with warm fuzzies. And extra special thanks to my beta readers, Katrina and isugirl.

Warning: Rated T for language.

Disclaimer: Buffyverse owned by Joss Whedon. Supernatural owned by Eric Kripke.

Chapter Fourteen: Buffy

Buffy smiled as saw Dean leaning against the hood of his precious car, admiring the way he looked in his worn jeans and battered brown leather jacket. It felt weird to think that she'd only known him for a day. That she'd thought of him as a macho jerk for ruining her evening. And that she'd tried to ditch him so she could stake a vampire. It was actually sort of amazing that he was still talking to her with a first impression like that.

"Did you find it?" he asked when he caught sight of her.

"Right where she said it would be. And I called and told Willow you were coming on patrol with me, so Sammy won't worry." She'd also assured her friend that Oz was safe. Maybe now he'd feel comfortable hanging out while Dean and Sam were around.

"I'm sure he was real happy about that," he said, smirking. He opened her door with a bow. "After you, my lady. Where to now?"

"Check out the closest cemetery, look for fresh graves." She directed him south, through Greek Row, completely forgetting that it was Saturday night. Her eyes skimmed across the crowd as the traffic slowed to a crawl, and her eyes caught the bright glow of pale skin and platinum-blond hair. No, he wouldn't come back. Not unless he's a glutton for punishment. "Change of plans. How would you like to go to a frat party?"

Dean shot her a look that made it clear he did not want to go, but he pulled the car into a spot. She hopped out before he could come around to her side. There it was again, a flash of slicked-back, unnaturally bright hair. She grabbed Dean's hand. "Come on."

He might have said something in protest or pulled away, but she didn't notice. If she was right, and she hoped she wasn't, then there was trouble ahead. And she needed Dean to stay safely by her side.

She slowed once they got inside Wolf House, searching for that face with the prominent cheekbones and the scar above his left eye. Her instincts automatically disregarded anyone without blond hair, so she didn't even notice when she ran into some guy with black hair.

"Buffy?"

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't—" Forcing herself to focus on the person in front of her, she blinked in surprise as she realized who she'd run into. "Parker?"

His eyes followed her arm to her hand, firmly clasped in Dean's, and up to the icy emerald eyes on a face as hard and inexpressive as stone. "Buffy, I've been meaning to call you. I'm really sorry about what happened last night. I wanted to apologize."

She felt Dean trying to tug his hand from hers. Rather than pulling back, she let his momentum draw her to him. Her eyes sought his, hoping to find an answer for his odd behavior, but he refused to look at her. Instead, he plastered on his smug grin and raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Sorry, Parker. I guess she wanted to go home with a real man."

"Don't tell me you're really here with this guy. I thought you were better than that. The Buffy I know wouldn't hook up with a complete stranger."

"Parker," she said. She wanted to tell him that he didn't know her, that Dean wasn't a stranger, and that Dean was a better man than him by far. Instead, she asked, "Have you seen a guy with bleach-blond hair, probably wearing a leather duster, talks with a British accent? Kind of, um, looks like Billy Idol?"

"Huh?" replied Parker. And Dean.

Buffy realized that she'd never told Dean why they were here. He'd probably asked, but she'd been so intent on the hunt that she hadn't listened and simply dragged him through the house. She looked, really looked, at Dean and saw confusion, anger, jealousy, and a twinge of pain hidden away behind his implacable façade. He didn't really believe those things that Parker said, did he? She'd just have to set it right. After she caught Spike.

"Remember our friend?" She smiled up at him, hoping he could read the apology in her eyes. "The one with the sharp, pointy teeth who likes his meat raw? The bloodier, the better?"

His eyes narrowed as he listened to her words. The he smiled. The real Dean Winchester smile; her Dean's smile.

"I tried, Buffy. I really tried to like you," Parker said. "I wasted a whole freaking week! But you're just not normal."

Dean's fist connected with Parker's jaw, knocking him out cold. He pulled Buffy to him, wrapping an arm protectively around her shoulders as he propelled her out of the room. She found a less crowded spot near a doorway and pulled him close.

"What was that for?" Even standing on her toes, he had to lean down so she could speak into his ear.

"Because I didn't want you to beat me to the punch like you did last night. And because," he said, stroking a lock of hair from her face, "you are worth it."

She closed her eyes, her lips sought his, and she was falling – falling sideways? Her eyes flew open and she turned to face the interrupting jerk who'd knocked into her.

"Spike." She filled her voice with as much loathing as she could possibly muster. Then her gaze drifted across his victim – a wounded, but still-breathing frat boy – and landed on an unexpected face. "And Harmony."

"Buffy. Hi." Harmony's eyes rolled down Buffy's body in a very judge-y way. "What a cute outfit. Last year." How was it that she managed to remain the same vapid wannabe she'd been before she'd lost her soul, while Angel became a sadistic demon? Maybe she was soulless all along.

"Well, this is interesting," Spike said. "Sort of a double date."

"Looks like your friend started the party a little early, huh?" said Dean. He drew himself up to his full height so that he looked down on the vampire. She might have felt resentment at him for towering over her in such a masculine display except that he shifted his body slightly behind hers, allowing her to lead while showing his support.

"So," Spike said, no doubt observing the dynamic between them, "let's have a look at the new boy."

"Hi, I'm Dean Winchester. Who the fuck are you?"

Spike's eye twitched at Dean's name, but he ignored the question. Instead, his gaze drifted over Dean's broad shoulders and clenched fists, all the while looking unimpressed. "Hmmm. I like him. He's got – what's the word?" He smiled as he focused on the pulsing vein at Dean's throat. "Vulnerability."

"And you," Buffy said, drawing his focus back to her, "with Harmony. What'd you do? Loose a bet?"

"Hey," Harmony cried, although it had taken a minute before she realized that she'd been insulted. Becoming a vampire must have increased the blood flow to her brain.

"Actually, how we met. It's a funny story—"

Buffy lunged to the side as Spike flung his victim towards them. Sparing a glance at Dean, who'd caught the boy and was motioning for her to go, she leapt over the couch in pursuit of the vampire. She dodged a few drunken partygoers, following the shock of white-blond hair and the flutter of his black coat out the doors.

It was a little quieter outside on the porch, less crowded, but Spike was nowhere to be seen. She knew he couldn't have gotten far. Reaching inside her jacket, she took out Pointy, Jr. and cautiously made her way down the short flight of stairs. Her instincts urged her to the left, around a large bush, and towards the side of the building.

She spotted a suspiciously dark patch in the foliage ahead. As if hiding behind a tree trunk would work in real life the way it did in cartoons. Same old Spike. She stalked down the walkway until she was almost upon him. With a quick spin, she punched into the darkness, her fist seeking his cold, dead flesh.

He deflected her blow, returning it with one of his own.

"What's the matter Spike?" said Buffy, feigning concern. "Dru dump you again?"

She hit him with a combo this time, a backhanded blow with the left – blocked – followed by a cross from the right – blocked – ending with a punch from the left – landed!

"Maybe I left her."

Buffy attacked again, but Spike used her momentum to fling her around so that they exchanged places. Harmony now stood beside him, and Buffy wondered, fleetingly, where Dean was and whether he was okay.

"She left him for a fungus demon." Harmony let out an exasperated sigh. "That's all he talks about most days."

"Harm!" said Spike, turning to glare at her. "We are going. It isn't time yet."

"Yeah, but as soon as we have the Gem of Amarra, you're gonna be sorr—"

"Argh!" He grabbed her arm angrily, yanking her away without a care for her protests.

But the damage was done, and Buffy knew what they were looking for. She didn't know what it did or what it looked like, although she knew a certain stuffy, unemployed Englishman who would be glad to have something to do.

"You okay?" Dean asked, racing to her side as she watched Harmony and Spike leave. She let out a brief sigh of relief at the sight of him, not realizing that she'd been holding her breath.

"Dean, no," said Buffy when he moved to follow them. "Spike's dangerous, but he's impulsive, which makes him incompetent. And Harmony... well, she makes goldfish look smart."

"Cockney Ken and Party Girl Barbie aren't exactly harmless, Buffy."

"I know, but I'd feel better if I knew more about this Gem of Amarra they talked about." She shot him a wry smile before turning away to search for a payphone. "I need to call my Watcher."

"Watcher, huh? Sounds kinda kinky, but I'm not sure ho—"

"He's like my mentor," she said, rolling her eyes. "And trainer. He used to follow me on patrol and grade me on my slaying. I got an 'A' in punning." She smiled fondly at the memory of Giles, exasperated over her chattiness and flippant attitude towards slaying. She glanced up at Dean to tell him about it, and the smile fell from her face. "By the way, I owe you an apology."

"What for?"

"I'm so used to hunting alone that when I saw Spike, I went into full Slayer mode." It was an excuse and not a particularly good one. She hung her head. "I guess that means I get an 'F' in communication."

"It's okay, Buff." He slipped a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. She was amazed to see that he'd surprised her again. It was okay. "I mean, at first I thought... But once I realized what was going on, I had your back."

"I know, and I... thank you." It wasn't enough. Not nearly enough for what he'd done for her, what he'd given her. She searched his face and realized that maybe there was something she could do. "You know, those things that Parker said... None of it was true. You're not—"

His finger moved from her chin to her lips, silencing her. "You go call your Watcher. I'll call Sammy and see if he can help."

Next up Chapter 15: Sam Research gets interrupted by an unexpected visitor.

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