Chapter Fifteen.

The bathroom was tiny.

The single overhead bulb was dull, casting more shadows then light across the worn tiles. Little blue paintings decorated the surfaces. Flowers or maybe ducks, Buffy couldn't tell the paint was so faded. An equally tiny sink to match the tiny bathroom, sat under an old mirror. So old that some of the reflective surface had worn off in places, creating a mottled image.

But Buffy could still make out her blank stony expression. She reached up to undo the chinstrap of her helmet. She gave no outward reaction to the state of her hair, save for releasing it from the low ponytail she'd had placed it in earlier.

Her eyes flicked over the mirror image, scanning her spotted reflection. What she was looking for, even she didn't know. Guilt maybe? Some kind of acknowledgement of how lucky she'd been?

Buffy gave a sharp exhale and turned on the tap, wetting a cloth. In the process she knocked her helmet off the sink and onto the floor. It landed with a soft thump, but it might as well have been a gunshot in the tiny room.

A gunshot over her shoulder… Jacques standing there with a smoking gun… or was it Jacques lying on the ground dead. A boy lying on the ground dead… flickered to Dawn lying dead on the ground.

A bullet hole in her head.

Silently she begun to spot clean her suit. The dense weave didn't absorb water. It had been made from some experimental fabric and armour blend that Howard had rambled on about until Buffy had stopped listening. But now she watched the droplets collect and run together across the surface. The water turning a pinky colour with the blood.

With a huff Buffy threw the washcloth down and snatched up a hand towel. She was still drying herself off as she exited the little bathroom, into a matching little bedroom. Made even smaller by the presence of the large blond man sitting on the surprisingly large bed.

"Steve." Buffy said in surprise, before throwing the towel back in the bathroom and closing the door. Even she didn't know why. Just that she was hiding. Hiding… something.

Evidence of how lucky she had been?

"Where are the others?" She asked, wetting her lips. Trying to act like there was nothing wrong. She watched as Steve's eyes flicked from her to the bathroom. She never was good at playing it cool.

"Still outside partyin'." Steve told her, nodding toward the window. Obviously willing to let Buffy pretend that nothing was wrong.

"Well they deserve it." Buffy remarked, crossing to the window to watch the townsfolk celebrate their rescue with the rest of the Howling Commandoes.

"Are you alright?" So maybe he wasn't willing to let her pretend.

"No." Buffy replied simply, shortly and with more lightness then the sentiment implied. She sat down next to him, with a sigh.

"I spoke to Dernier." Steve said softly, sending her a concerned look. "He told me what happened in the Hydra factory."

"This isn't what I expected it would be." Buffy said quietly instead. There was no use skirting around the issue.

"I don't think it's what anyone expected." Steve replied, shaking his head. "This was one of the reasons I was so concerned 'bout you helpin' at first. Not because I thought you couldn't help. If anyone could, it would be you. I just… guessed this would be different for you… I can't imagine huntin' demons and vampires would involve much guns an' explosions."

"Actually…"

"My point." Steve continued, cutting her off. He probably didn't want the mental image of vampires with guns in his head. "This is war… and it's difficult an' hard for everyone."

"I almost let myself get shot… I could have gotten Dernier killed." Buffy exclaimed. "I could have gotten that boy killed. Because I…"

Steve just watched her, letting her work through it for the moment.

"Because I didn't kill them." She said in a small voice. "Either of them. Dernier had to shoot the first guy. And then later… one with the hostages… he could have gotten a shot off. I got lucky. All because I didn't want to hurt a human."

"When I first started slaying, things were easier." Buffy said softly, almost speaking more to herself. "Not the slaying part, because that sucked. But everything…It was so black and white… see vampire, slayer vampire, party."

"Sounds reasonable." Steve commented.

"But it wasn't black and white." Buffy said, looking to him with wide eyes. "Some of the nicest people I've met have been demons. But, well… as a whole… most of them are mass murdering, world destroying jerks. But still less black and white then I first thought."

Buffy turned to look out the window with a sad look. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that humans aren't black and white as well."

"What do you mean?"

"I know some really awesome people." Buffy told him, reaching out to thread her fingers through his. "And I know some people can be dicks. But some humans are mass murdering, world destroying jerks too."

Buffy knew about the facts and stories of World War Two. But FACTS and STORIES, didn't come close to what it was truly like. Of what it would be like to fight in it. But now she was here… fighting humans that were every bit as evil as some of the demons she'd hunted.

She clenched her teeth and felt a mask of determination settle over her. "I'm not going to suddenly start killing people."

"I'm glad to hear it." Steve deadpanned to her sudden declaration.

Buffy rolled her eyes at him, before continuing. "But I promise to be… smarter about future encounters."

With that she pushed herself to her feet and grabbed hold of his hand. She leant forward pressing a quick kiss onto his lips, before straightening with a smirk.

Steve arched an eyebrow at her. Probably thrown by her sudden change of attitude. She thought by now he would have gotten that she didn't like to dwell. Or at least she could pretend she didn't until it no longer mattered.

That or punch things repeatedly, until she felt better. Slayer coping method could be very therapeutic.

"Now come on." She ordered, pulling Steve to his feet. "There's a party going on and I need to dance the day off."

She paused at the door just as something occurred to her, casting a vaguely horror filled look at Steve. She reached up slowly almost afraid that touch would confirm her horror.

"My hair." She whispered to herself. Before pushing Steve in front of her and out the door. He went willingly enough, casting bewildered looks at her over his shoulder. "Go! You go first… I have to sort out this… mess."

She rushed back into the bathroom and worked about setting her helmet hair right. She gave herself a quick once over, before turning to leave the bathroom. Pausing on her way out, she squinted at the pictures on the tiles.

Definitely ducks.

#SC#

The remaining townsfolk had gathered to throw their rescuers a party in the little town square. The area lit by streetlights and moonlight. Strings of globes hung out the front of what probably was the only bar in the town. Fires burnt away in barrels, placed around the edge of the gathering, for extra light and warmth.

There was music. Live music, in the form of someone playing a little old piano that drifted from within the open doors of the bar. Dernier was singing allow with another Frenchmen. Loudly, joyfully and a little off key and not caring in the slightest.

Dancing at the Bronze had always been a good way to unwind after slaying or school or… life happened. The whole dancing thing was very relaxing for Buffy. To cut loose and unwind and let the cares of the day just wash away with the music.

But this was an unusual situation. After the battle the Howling Commandoes had thought they'd be moving on to find their next target. But Steve had gotten in contact with command, who had talked with the nearest Allied forces. They had to hold the town until someone could come and reinforce the position.

It wasn't going to be long… a day at the least. The town took the opportunity the throw a celebration. The Howlies weren't going to throw away the chance for a party.

Couples had paired off in the open streets of the town, swaying together without care or thought to the actual music.

Buffy scanned the faces around her, before looking to the town surrounding them. Still mostly standing and intact compared to some of the towns Buffy had seen. Still… The townsfolk they'd rescued wasn't enough the fill the empty houses of the town. The others must have fled or…something.

She spotted the other Commandoes easy. Dernier might have been the one singing, but it was Falsworth on the piano. Morita was in the bar with them. Gabe was trying his best French lines on one of the townswomen, Dum Dum at his side.

She couldn't hear what was being said, not that she would have understood it, but she didn't think Gabe was having much luck. Especially given the woman's reaction and Dum Dum's laughter that almost seemed to resonate around the little town square.

An echoing laugh came from the other side of the square and Buffy turned to spot Steve and Bucky. They were sitting together against the outside wall of the bar. Both of them watching Gabe's failure with amusement. With a smile Buffy crossed to their side, returning Dum Dum's gesture of greeting as she walked past.

"Hey." Buffy said, dropping into an empty seat next to Steve.

"Hey." Both of them replied.

"You alright?" Bucky asked giving her a once over. As if looking for a physical sign that something was wrong.

"Fine." Buffy replied, shooting a look towards Steve. Wondering how many of the Commandoes knew about her reaction to the minor shake up of her moral compass.

She really needed to work on how to play things cool.

"Let us know if you wanna talk." Bucky offered, before looking away. He scanned the other Commandoes and the rescued villagers for a few seconds before adding. "We're all dealin' with stuff. There's no shame in that."

Buffy eyed him slightly, wondering at his tone. The heavy hidden meaning that seemed to soak through his words. Once again, she asked herself. 'What had happened to Bucky at Azzano?'.

"Do you wanna talk?" Buffy offered him in return.

"I'm fine." Bucky replied quickly, a touch of finality in the statement.

Steve shifted slightly, obviously picking something in his friends' attitude. It was understandable, given how long the two of them had known each other.

The three of them fell into silence, before Bucky broke it. Whatever shadow that had fallen over him fading as he nudged Steve in the ribs. He nodded in Buffy's direction. "Ask her to dance, punk."

Steve stood and with a small smile offered Buffy his hand.

"Care to dance?" He asked.

"Of course." Buffy replied, after a quick glance at Bucky. She allowed Steve to pull her to her feet. Together they moved a few more feet into the courtyard, before Steve pulled her close and into his arms. It wasn't a complicated dance, just a gentle sway as they stood close.

She sent a glance at Bucky over Steve's shoulder, although given the size difference it was more like around them. She even had to crane her neck to do that.

"Is he alright?" She asked Steve softly, turning to look back up at him.

"I don't know." Admitted Steve, just as softly. He looked kind of sad at the fact. "But we can't force him to tell us."

"Right." Buffy said in agreement, without fully agreeing. She sent a look back to Bucky. He looked completely relaxed where he was sitting. When he saw her looking, he even sent her a smile.

She gave him a small smile in return and turned her attention away. Not wanting him to think she was assessing him too much. She gave a quick scan of the crowd, before turning her attention back to Steve.

A second later she froze and turned to look back at the villagers.

"Buffy?" She heard Steve's concerned voice ask. "Everything okay?"

"It's nothing…" She cut herself off, because something inside her told her it was something. "It's just… is there more people here then there was before?"

She looked back to sees Steve frown as well, as his gaze flicked over the crowd. Obviously mentally counting and remembering original faces and numbers. She could feel his muscles tense, when he realised the same thing she had.

There were too many people there.

She scanned the crowd, watching as people mingled together. More than one of the rescued villagers gave the new faces curious and confused looks. Clearly wondering where these new people had come from. They didn't really stand out, dressed in the same simple if worn clothes. But there was still something different about them.

Buffy knew and she was kicking herself for not realising it sooner. The village was an obvious target. Little defences and a ragtag group of people clustered together, while a war raged on around them. Someone might as well have rung a dinner bell.

"Oh no." Buffy breathed, counting the new faces.

"What is it?" Steve asked quietly, but it didn't matter. Buffy knew they could hear everything that was being said.

A group of them. A large group of…

"Vampires." Buffy explained, just as someone screamed. Faces around them shifted, their eyes turning a vicious yellow as ridges formed across their forehead. Fang filled mouths snarled, as the vampires lunged for the humans around them.

Buffy turned quickly, rushing over to a nearby table. She quickly overturned it, snapping off two of the legs.

"Steve!" She called throwing one of the makeshift stakes to the Captain. Steve caught it quickly, and with the experience of his earlier encounter with vampires. Made quick work of the vampire coming up behind him. Before turning to pull a vampire off a townsman.

The other Commandoes, despite clearly being thrown by the new attackers, were quick to respond. The villagers started to run, heading for the safety of houses and invitation barriers. Making Buffy wonder briefly, if they knew about it.

Dum Dum was quick to pick up his machine gun, from where he'd sat it down earlier. Before opening fire on the attacking forces.

Two vampires jerked, thrown backwards from the force of the bullets. They lay for a moment on the ground before climbing snarling back to their feet. Shirts shredded with wounds, that didn't bleed.

"Don't just shoot them!" Buffy shouted quickly, throwing Dum Dum her stake. "Guns won't kill them! Use the stake, aim for the heart!"

She barely registered the bewildered "What?" that was yelled at her back, as she quickly pulled her twin blades from their sheaths. Adamantine blades cut through vampire flesh like tissue paper, as Buffy begun working her way through the vampires.

"You know. Today was a really lousy day." Buffy told the next vampire she came across, right after she punched it in the face. She followed through with a swipe of one blade, the super sharp metal sliced through the air with almost an audible sound.

The vampire dodged away, snarling at her before lunging forward with a vicious move. Buffy side stepped it and danced out of range. Trying to give her more room to use her blades. It didn't however stop her from talking. "I mean yeah… we saved the prisoners and wiped an evil Hydra death base off the planet… But fighting humans still feels kinda weird to me, y'know?"

"But this…" Buffy continued, as she ducked another swing. Before spinning around to kick back at another vampire that was trying to take advantage of her distraction with his friend.

"Feels like more…" She continued as she spun, a twirling whirlwind of flashing sharp blades.

One blade flicked out in a backhand stroke, while the other spun around briefly before slicing down through its target. Both vampires exploded into dust almost at the same time, as Buffy cleanly severed their heads. "…Normal to me"

Behind her, Steve rammed his stake into the chest of a vampire, before punching it back a few feet. Buffy moved passed it, her blade flashed in a quick move.

"Hey!" Steve called, as the vampire collapsed into dust. A slight smirk playing on his lips. "I could have handled that."

Buffy rolled her shoulders slightly and sighed. "I feel better now."

One last vampire seemed the shy away from Dum Dum threatening wave of the stake. Besides him Gabe's rifle was aimed at it. It turned quickly, before heading straight for the next closest target.

"Bucky!" She called in alarm. Only to freeze a moment later in stunned surprise, when Barnes pulled his fist back and punched the vampire with enough force it knocked the creature back off its feet.

Buffy rushed forward quickly slicing off the vampire's head as it started to get up again. Silence settled over the square, save for the occasional crackle of the nearby fires. Buffy found herself staring at Bucky. She knew what it took to knock of vampire off its feet. A regular human could do it… but rarely on their first encounter and never with their bare hands.

Bucky was looking down at his fist. Opening and closing his hand, before he looked up, realising he was being stared at. He frowned quickly at them all and demanded. "What?"

"That is actually a really good question." Dum Dum remarked, finally lowering his stake. But he didn't let it go. "What was that?"

"I'm going to make a guess." Falseworth commented marking his way across the courtyard, flanked by the other Howling Commandoes. He gave Buffy a curious look and added almost drolly. "I'll say vampires."

The surrounding men made various confused muttering sounds, each of them looking at each other as if asking for someone to come up with a better answer. Falsworth said nothing else, simply watched Buffy quietly, making the young woman shuffled self-consciously.

"How are the villagers?' Steve asked, breaking through the confusion and the tension. "Was anyone hurt in the attack?"

"No." The answer came from numerous sources, before Dum Dum added. "You guys took them out pretty fast."

"Yeah…" Gabe Jones agreed, copying the rest of the Commandoes as they eyed their commanders with confused curiosity. "How'd you know how to fight… vampires?"

Gabe sent Falsworth a look, as if to confirm. That, yes, they really were going with 'The attackers were Vampires' theory.

Steve gave Buffy a shared look, before he answered vaguely with a shrug. "Let's just say we have some experience with them."

"A couple of encounters." Buffy added, as she bit her lip. She really didn't want to go into this now, the team had already had a world-shaking event happen to them. They had more important things happening, then them having their view on her and Slayer status revealed.

Maybe, if she was lucky, it could delay questions until they were back in London or something.

"How much experience?" Seriously did she break a mirror or kick a black cat or something? What was up with her luck?

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked cautiously, looking to the man that asked the question. Falsworth was giving her a rather strange look.

"If I were to say something about…Watchers? Or Slayers?" Falsworth asked and Buffy felt her stomach drop to somewhere around her knees. "Would you know what I'm talking about?"

"How?!" Buffy begun, eyes widening in surprise.

"Maybe we should sit down for this?" Steve instructed, gesturing back towards the now empty bar.

"And have a drink." Dum Dum added, reaching up to tilt his ever-present bowler hat back slightly, so he could give Buffy a clearer look. "I have a feeling we're gonna need it."

They all turned and one by one headed back inside the bar. Each of them finding a chair or even tables to sit down on. The bar was only a tiny space, made to feel even more so with the presence of so many men. Each of them armed and ready for combat.

"What is it about stuffy British men and Slayers?!" Buffy muttered to herself, as she found herself a seat next to Steve.

"Spill!" Buffy demanded, turning to Falsworth the moment everyone was settled. "What do you know about Watchers and Slayers?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Falsworth countered.

"I asked you first." Buffy bit back, her jaw jutting stubbornly. She felt about five years old after she said it.

"I don't know much admittedly." Falsworth stated, caving to her request. "My brother John… He was the one that knew things about vampires and the supernatural."

"It started, when our father died." He continued, laying down the background for his story. "I inherited his title as Lord Falsworth..."

"You're a Lord?!" Buffy burst out, when everyone turned to her because of the interruption. Her cheeks coloured slightly, and she sat back into her chair. "Never mind continue."

"John was bitter about this and struggled to find is place in the world." Falsworth continued his story. "Somehow he fell in with the occult. I think he thought he could use it to change his lot in life. He became obsessed. He'd rant about vampires, Watchers and Slayers…"

"What happened to your brother?" Buffy asked curiously.

"He disappeared… years ago. He went off to find his own fortune or maybe to find proof." Falsworth replied, nodding his head in acceptance as Buffy muttered her condolences. "Of all the stories he ever told me, I always found the one about the Slayer the most interesting."

"Slayer?" Bucky asked, looking from Falsworth to Buffy.

"A girl." Falsworth explained, all the while looking Buffy dead in the eye. "With the strength and skill to fight vampires and the forces of darkness. I didn't truly believe it until tonight."

As one the Howling Commandoes turned to look at Buffy.

She wilted slightly, before heaving a body shaking sigh. "Okay! Yes! I'm a Slayer. I have increased strength, speed… etcetera etcetera."

She looked from face to face. Gauging the varying degrees of shock and astonishment across each of the Commandoes.

"How'd you become a slayer?" Bucky asked quietly. There was something in his tone beyond simple curiosity, as he stared down at his own fist.

"I was…" Buffy begun, eyeing Bucky for a moment before letting her gaze flick over the surrounding men. Each of them looking at her in open interest. She mentally sighed and waved her white flag. She gave up, they could have all the details.

Well… not all… she wasn't sure how adding she was a time traveller would affect their mental state.

"I was chosen." Buffy stated, before puffing herself up in an effort to come across more stuffy and important sounding. The spiel was best done in Watcher voice after all. "In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer."

She waved her hands around herself, as if giving a Ta-Da, as she presented them with the Slayer. Her.

"Sounds very… important." Morita commented, rubbing at the whiskers that had started to decorate his chin. "If a bit vague. No reference to the source of your powers and abilities?"

"Well the Watchers probably know...maybe" Buffy shrugged, pulling a disgruntled face. "But they're not big on 'The sharing'."

"Watchers?" Gabe questioned. Looking from Buffy to Falsworth and back. "I'm guessing they Watch?"

"It's their favourite pastime." Buffy quipped, with a sardonic twist of her lips.

She put on her best pleading face and asked something that had been haunting her from the moment she realised her cover had been blown… again. "You're not gonna tell Colonel Phillips, are you?"

"What do you think would change, if he knew?" Steve asked, arching a blond eyebrow at her. "He already thinks you're one of those enhanced people that are turning up."

"I dunno…" Buffy replied waving her hands to demonstrate…something. "The existence of vampires maybe?!"

"I won't be surprised if he already knew somethin' 'bout it." Steve said with a thoughtful look. "Phillips is in charge of the S.S.R, Buffy. These guys know secrets 'bout secrets."

"Hhmp…" Buffy sounded, pursing her lips. Her… interactions with Phillips had always been strained. Buffy was sure the man didn't trust her and her motives. Not to mentions Buffy's own inbuilt wariness of any and all people of authority, especially of the older man variety.

She huffed out a breath, before forcing herself to relax. Buffy plastered on the best innocent expression she could, turned to the others and asked. "Any questions?"

She shouldn't have asked.

The sudden explosion of questions momentarily deafened her. As each man asked about hunting vampires and such. Buffy rolled her eyes to the ceiling.

This was going to take all night.

#SC#

"They took that better than I thought." Buffy remarked as she stopped outside the room the villagers had given her. After fielding more questions than she cared to remember, Steve had ordered them to retire for the night. After that they all headed off to their rooms.

Buffy turned to Steve with a smile. "I swore they'd think I was mad."

"The whole worlds a little mad right now." Steve replied, echoing her smile. He turned his head, looking off into the vague direction the Commandoes had disappeared for the night. "They're good men. They'll stand by you."

"You." Buffy corrected. They were after all Steve's men.

"Us." Steve corrected her, his smile widening as Buffy turned to blink up at him. Buffy smile slowly grew in return.

"Today really has been a weird day." Buffy said softly. "Is it bad of me to think that tonight was… almost a reminder that I'm still me?"

"Was that ever in doubt." Steve questioned softly.

"You'd be surprised." Buffy replied. It wasn't the first time that Buffy needed a good slaying to remind her, that she was still in some control of her life.

"You're right the world is a little mad right now." Buffy continued softly. Tilting her head slightly as she watched him with soft green eyes. "It just nice to know that some things are still constant. Like slaying and me…"

She reached up to cup his cheek, brushing her thumb across his cheekbone. Buffy smile was as soft as her eyes, as she added. "And you."

Her hand moved to the back of his head, before Buffy pulled him down towards her. She arched up to meet him, pressing her lips against his in a gentle kiss. They pulled back after a moment.

Blue eyes met green, for a second before they both pressed forward with more force. Steve took control of the kiss. Pouring in a growing intensity, Buffy answered with just as much passion. His large hand reached around to hold her back, pressing her in close against his body.

Buffy's hand on Steve's head, threaded its fingers through short blond hair. While the other reached up to clutch at the muscles on his back. Feeling them bunch and clench under her grip, as Steve moved and shifted trying to bring her closer.

Steve's lips left hers after a moment and Buffy's let her head fall back. Almost overwhelmed by the sensations that ran through her. Steve took the opportunity to start pressing kisses to her jawline, as Buffy gasped lightly at the feeling.

She pulled back abruptly.

"Buffy?" Steve questioned. There was a hoarseness to his voice that she'd never heard before. And Buffy couldn't help but smile, at the thought of how much she was obviously affecting him.

She took hold of his hand. Pulling him back with her and the through the door behind her.

Into her little room with its big bed.

The world might be going mad around them. But together they might be able to find some sanity.

A/N: Sorry for the wait. Life happens, I guess. To those that thought I was going to abandon this story… don't worry. I have basically this whole story and some notes (save for some scenes) handwritten across a couple of notebooks. It's just a matter of typing it up and polishing it.

This chapter…because fighting demons and fighting a war amongst humans… are two very different things.

…Please don't expect a continuation of that last seen. I'll tease lemons and allude to them, but I'll never write one.

You might have noticed I added quite a lot more details into this chapter. Like I said before I plan on going back and adding more to previous chapters. But right now, I'm focusing on just completing the story. This just saves me some work in the long run.