Disclaimers in Chapter 1
Spoilers: Fur and Loathing
AN: For the sake of this chapter, Grissom/Nick were on the one case, and
Cath/Sara were on the Raccoon one. Enjoy )

CHAPTER 14

Slowly but surely, we all started getting into a comfortable pattern around each other. Willow and I would make sure Lindsay was taken care when Mom and Sara were working, and Nancy wasn't available while also still getting couples time. Wil and I have had a few more skating dates, and she is picking it up faster than I thought she would. Plus, she has been checking on courses at Western LVU. It surprised me that she didn't
press me, but I think she knew I was still getting used to being Buffy Flynn-Summers.

I was doing my morning ritual swimming when Willow came out smiling, so I swam over to the side of the pool and propped my head up on my arms, "What has you so happy?" like it mattered, I love seeing that smile.

"I found something we can do today, but you have to hurry up and shower, so we don't miss the first lecture," I was already drying myself when she told me we had plans and was surprised that the word 'lecture' didn't scare me.

I did however try to tempt Wil by dropping my bikini to the floor before putting on my robe, but she barely flinched, so I ran to the shower, and instead of a Buffy shower, I just washed up and headed back to the bedroom where I found clothes already laid out for me. I was fine with the shorts, but the shirt with the kitty on it wigged me a little,
but it smelled like Willow, so I put it on, and then went to look for her.

Another change was Scott. Sara had started taking Willow out to show her the easiest ways to get around Vegas, so we let Scott stick around until somebody else needed him. Anyway, I noticed that Willow drove us to King's River Hotel, and let me just say, my mind went straight for the gutter, but that was until I saw the sign in the lobby that said
PAFCON. It was a Plushies and Furries convention. Of course, it's Vegas, and then, I saw a six foot weasel.

"I love you, Willow, but I'm not dressing up as Mr. Gordo," I wasn't sure why we were here, but I wanted to make that clear.

"Well good. I love you, Buffy, not Mr. Gordo. I just thought this looked neat and wanted to check it out, okay?" I answered her by kissing her tenderly and then taking her hand. I also noticed that is was almost ten-thirty, so it was time for the first lecture of the day.

Before it started, I looked around and noticed that not everybody was wearing an animal costume. Some were dressed like Wil and I, so I relaxed while still holding onto Willow's hand and got ready for the lecture to start. As I was listening, I started to think that if didn't have Wil this would be a good way to meet someone. I mean think about.
You meet someone that you don't know what they look like, but you develop a relationship with the things that really matter.

When it ended, Willow pulled me up, "C'mon Buffy, it's time to see if we can add to Lindsay's menagerie," I didn't know what she meant until I check on the schedule and saw it was time for the furry raffle, so we headed off to the main lobby.

I had my arms wrapped around Willow's waist as we watched her numbers while the emcee read them off. I think she really wanted to win something, but I couldn't really tell. When they read the last number, I took her hand and headed to check out the booths before the next lecture. I played a hunch as I leaned into her ear.

"How about before we go home you drive us to the mall, and I will buy you whatever Build-A-Bear you want," my smile got bigger as I saw hers curl up too.

"What if there is more than one that calls to me to take them home?" Yeah, like I have been able to say no to that face.

"I'll buy out the store if that is what it takes," she gave me a quick kiss before laying her head on my shoulder as we killed time before the next lecture.

As we walked around, I was starting to understand Las Vegas. From the outside, it looks like this flashy town with nothing but casinos, strippers and hookers, but now that I've been here for awhile, it is no different than any other town. Okay, that's not completely true. There aren't many places that you can get married in most towns. Where Sunnydale had churches and graveyards, Vegas has casinos and wedding chapels. From where we were at, I could see they were starting to let people in for the lecture, and then a voice stopped us.

"Fancy meeting you two here," No, it can't be. Sara wouldn't bring Mom here as I turned us around to find Mom and Sara wearing their CSI vests. Oh yeah, this has blackmail written all over it.

Grissom had made sure not to pair Sara and I together too much to appease the higher ups, but I was glad that he put us on this one since I had a gut feeling this was going to end up a double. I knew Nancy had Lindsay taken care of, and Buffy and Willow are grown women, so as long as I don't run into them at PD or get a call from the ER, I'll let them live their lives.

Sara and I headed over to the totaled car while I heard the truck driver telling the officer that he was sober behind me. We took at the damage before noticing the skid marks. Then the skid marks led to paw prints, big ones, so after looking at Sara we followed them until they led over to the side of the road. I grabbed my flashlight and was
shining it down the hill until I saw it.

It was a man in a raccoon suit, and we collected a little evidence as David came over. He looked wigged (Buffy and Willow taught it to Lindsay, so I picked it up too). Once he collected our 'furry friend', Sara and I decided to head back with him to see if we could figure out how Linda Jones and a guy in a raccoon suit both end up dead.

Surprisingly, we got back to the lab, and the pieces just started to fall into place. Not only was Rocky Raccoon hit by a car, he was shot, and after stopping in to check with Warrick, we found out his name was Robert Pitt, and then, Greg throws a curve ball by saying the fur ball we found had ipecac and civet oil on it. I knew about ipecac, and Greg
filled us in on civet oil. Sara decided to check out the car while Brass and I headed over to Mr. Pitt's residence, and that's when I found out he was going to something called PAFCON, so I called Sara to meet me at the King's River Hotel.

She was standing in the doorway of the lobby as I walked in, "PAFcon?" Yeah, like Sara knew anymore than I did.

She just gave me her sweet smile, "Plushies and Furries convention. And we're looking for a bright blue Plushie...I think."

I pinched the bridge of my nose trying to stave off more wigging while Sara started to look like she was getting into one of Grissom-esque zones. We discussed why people would do this, and even though I was still weirded out, Sara's explanations made sense, so I decided to keep an open mind, and then, Sara pointed to the schedule.

"I'm going to take in a lecture," she said as I was about to do some looking around, but Sara stopped me and pointed to the blonde and redhead. No way, my daughter and her girlfriend were at the PAF con, "Fancy meeting you two here," I stood beside Sara smiling as they turned around.

"Hey guys, small world, huh?" Nice Buffy, you can't come up with anything, so you fall back on your girlfriend's habit.

"This was my idea. Buffy had nothing to do with it," Wow, Willow still isn't good under pressure. She still folds quickly.

Mom reached out a touched Willow's shoulder, "Relax Willow, we're here in an official capacity, but since you're here, have you seen any bright blue Plushies?" Hey, I can help with this.

I had to think about our earlier activities and replay everybody that I saw, "I've only seen a few, but we've been sticking to the schedule, so there could still be more," Mom gave us both hugs as Sara came with us. Oh yeah, this is going to be bad.

After the lecture was over, Sara went to track down Mom while Wil and I headed to the banquet hall for lunch. Following that, we did a little more looking around before catching the last lecture, and instead of staying, we decided to head over to my aunt's. I knew Mom and Sara were probably home sleeping after their long day, so I would see what the dinner sitch was before going from there. When we pulled into the driveway, I saw Lindsay's head peek through the curtains, and I knew I was in store for the little sister missile. I carried Lindsay inside while also holding Willow's hand. We came in, and Nancy and Roger were sitting on the couch watching TV.

My aunt looked up smiling, "I was hoping you guys were coming over. Would you like to stay for dinner?" Willow said yes and followed my aunt into the kitchen while I headed into the living room.

"Buffy, I have a proposition for you," Roger said as I sat down.