Margo Guttierez was pouting. Carefully, so lines wouldn't appear on her forehead, but pouting all the same. She had left 3 messages on James' answering machine and he hadn't called back. She fluffed her sleek black hair and frowned in thought. He never could resist her, and she was sure that he would have proposed to her but she had left him for a much richer man. Her pout turned to a frown, Lyle just didn't understand her and had to let her go. Unbelievable but true. Well, if James wasn't going to call, she would just have to go to him.

"I will bet that he still goes to that stinky place, what was it?" she looked up at the ceiling, tapping a poison red nail against her capped tooth. "O'Malleys."

Cheered by her new course of action she decided to shop. He couldn't resist her.

Jay came home, tiredly dropping his keys on the small dresser, thinking about the week. The beginning had sucked with his meeting with Simon. He still felt a frisson of unease but dismissed it. He had served with Simon for a year and a half after all. Feeling reassured he went and listened to his messages. When Margo's voice came on he groaned and deleted it immediately.

He had dated the half Italian, half Mexican girl in the possible hopes of placating his father. She looked like she could be Indian. Unfortunately Margo was a piranha and when she broke up with him he realized he had gotten away lucky and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

He called Buffy instead and let her voice calm him and fill him.

Friday night he met Jack, Sg-1 and his own team at O'Malley's for a much needed break from a crazy mid week mission. They were all decompressing, talking quietly over their beers when the door opened and Jack groaned.

"Oh for cryin' out loud. It's the Wicked Witch of the West."

Jay sighed and half turned in his seat, then groaned. Sure enough, it was Margo. He should have known his week had gone to hell. She was wearing a low cut blouse to showcase her fake boobs, painted on blue jeans and a feline smile.

"James!" Fancy meeting you here!" She squealed, kissing him lavishly on the cheek. Everyone winced, her voice could cut glass.

Jay stood reluctantly, noticing with a half smile at his friends that no one else did.

"Hi Margo."

"James, you bad boy. I've called and called you."

A shrug, "I haven't checked my messages for awhile."

Margo tapped her foot impatiently. This wasn't going the way she wanted it too. "How about a dance?" she leaned forward to show off her cleavage. Teal'c took the opportunity to stand and disappear.

"Um, no thanks." Jay said quietly.

"Oh come on, for old times sake?" she pouted prettily. Jack was making gagging motions behind her and the others were laughing. Jay rolled his eyes, if it would get her off of his back…

"Ok, one dance." He let himself be led to the dance floor, wondering for the gazillionth time what he had ever seen in her. He couldn't help but compare her to Buffy. Blech, no. There was no comparison, Buffy won hands down.

Margo was really pouting now, James was not falling into her plans at all. When the song ended Jay smiled, "Good to see ya'." and fled.

He made his excuses and left the bar, driving home carefully. He barely had half a beer and was more stressed than when he had walked in, 'sheesh'. Slamming his door he went straight to the bathroom for a hot shower.

Margo pulled in behind Jay's truck and walked up the driveway. Finding the spare key she let herself in and smiled. He was in the shower. She undressed herself and walked into the bathroom, sliding into the shower with him.

"Hello James." She purred seductively.

"Jesus Christ!" Jay cursed. "Margo, get the fuck out of my house!" he shoved her out, ignoring her squealing and quickly tried to finish his shower.

"Unfucking believable!" he cursed.

Margo was spitting mad as she dragged on her clothes angrily. The phone rang and she stomped over to answer it.

"Hello."

Buffy looked at the phone in shock, then put it up to her ear again.

"I'm sorry, I must have the wrong number, I'm looking for Jay Coburn."

Instantly jealous even though she was sure it was one of James 'little Air Force friends', she said, "I'm sorry, he's in the shower." Holding the phone away she lifted her voice and called, "Be in the shower in a minute honey!"

Jay was drying off and hollered back, "Get out of my house Margo!"

Buffy's heart cracked as she heard Jay's muffled voice in the background.

Margo smiled, "If you're one of his Air Force friends you can leave a message."

"No, no message." And Buffy hung up with disbelief.

Willow walked in and watched as Buffy collapsed into tears on to the floor. Racing over to her friend she knelt and wrapped her arms around her. "Tell me." She demanded.

Through her tears Buffy looked up, "There was a woman who answered his phone."

"That rat." Willow said and comforted her friend.

Jay was totally oblivious of what was happening in Cleveland, all of his irritation concentrated on his ex-girlfriend.

"Margo, we are so over. Get lost. Preferably somewhere far away. "

Sashaying to him, rubbing herself against him she purred, "Are you sure? We were very good together."

He pushed her back, "It's over. Leave."

"Fine." She flounced out the front door and Jay sighed in relief.

He went to his bedroom and got dressed, then laid down on his bed to call Buffy. When the answering machine picked up he sighed in disappointment.

"Hey Buffy, it's me. I love you and wanted to talk, but maybe tomorrow. I miss you like crazy. Bye."

Buffy was being held by an anxious Willow, both listening to the message in disbelief.

"How can he say that?" her teary eyes looked at Willow.

"I don't know sweetie. Do you want me to turn him into a rat?"

A sad laugh, "Not today."

It took a couple of days and 3 unanswered phone calls for Jay to realize that something was seriously wrong.

"Um Buffy? Are you ok? Normally we would have talked 3 or 12 times by now. Where are you? Call me," a pause, "I love you."

Buffy listened to the message without expression then erased it and went to her room. Giles looked over at a troubled Dawn.

"I just can't believe it Giles. Jay just wouldn't do that."

Giles took off his glasses and began to clean them. "I wish I could call him and find out exactly what happened." He sighed in frustration. Unfortunately he was bound by his promise to Buffy.

Faith and Xander were both ready to string Jay up but were bound by their promises to Buffy as well. It didn't stop them from making elaborate plans to avenge their friend.

To keep Buffy busy Giles set her to extra training for the new slayers, it let her frustration have a constructive outlet. Truth be told it also kept her from listening to Jay's ever desperate messages on the answering machine.

SGC

Jack came into Jay's office and grimaced in sympathy. "You're sure you didn't screw up?"

Bloodshot, weary eyes looked up at his friend, "I'm not sure of anything anymore." He went through the motions for the rest of the day.

That night he was sitting on his porch steps sipping a mug of coffee as he watched the birds fly to and fro from the feeders when Margo drove up in her blue Miata.

"Great. Just what I need, like a zat in the ass."

Margo took a deep breath, she had to play this right. She had bills to pay.

"Hello James, how are you?"

He looked her over, remembering when he thought she was so exotic and beautiful. Maybe he had grown up but now all he saw was plastic surgery, a hard glitter in her eyes and no real emotions. He was sooo lucky to get away.

"I'm terrible, why do you ask?"

Her eyes showed uncertainty for the first time, "We were very good together, don't you wonder what we'd be like again?"

"No." he said flatly.

Margo was beyond pissed. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen! "Why? Was it that little slut on the phone the other day?"

His face froze, "You answered my phone?" Terror, surprising in its force filled him.

Now she realized she was on unsteady ground and tried a smile, "Probably just one of your little Air Force friends."

Dread certainty filled him. He stood, "Margo, I'm not interested in you. You left me for Lyle and I was relieved. Now please, please find another sucker to dig your claws into." And he walked inside and quietly shut his door.

He walked to his phone, dialed and got the answering machine.

"Buffy…God Babe, I'm sorry. I didn't know that bitch had answered my phone. Listen, she was an ex and has been bugging me but absolutely nothing happened! Shit." The machine clicked off and he dialed back.

"I swear I love you with all of my heart. I'll swear on a stack of Bibles." He paused, "I swear on the first kiss I gave you after I told you that I love you, the snow all around. Please call me Buffy. I'm sorry. Love you, bye." And he hung up.

Dawn looked at Faith and Willow with a triumphant smile, "See! I knew it!"

"Now if only Buffy was home." Faith commented thoughtfully.