Displaced: Once Again... (Ch.3)
By obi's girl
"Giles! Are you guys here? Hey, anybody in?" Buffy called as she entered the Magic Box. She glanced back at Willow, Tera and Death and they shrugged. She nodded to the guys to stay put, while she checked out the training room. Training room. It had been 10 years since she'd seen it. She smiled, leaning back on the doorsill.
She remembered coming into the room Giles furnished to meet her slaying needs. A dummy, Xander constructed. He was even a dummy once himself. It was after Riley left her and she needed to lose some energy and it just so happened Xander was there. Giles came from the front, carrying a massive protective padding. Buffy smiled.
Oh, the memories. There were so many. When the Council came and tested her, she killed the dummy she was supposed to protect. Of course, if she had her choice, it would be Quentin and the other Watchers, but mainly Quentin.
How so much had changed since those days. She was now thirty years old; still looked the same as they day she died. Still small but very strong and extremely deadly...and temper. Her outlet for that temper was patrol, kicking some demon or vampire ass. It helped. Slaying always helped.
She leaned back on the doorsill, lost in thought, she didn't even recognize someone enter. "Buffy?"
The girl nodded, "I never realized how much I missed this place. Giles made it for me. He and Xander worked day and night to perfect it." She smiled, leaning against the door. "When I got dressed for work out, I cried. Everything was so perfect. Now, I look at it, all I see is..."
"What? What do you see?"
Buffy nodded, turning to Death. "All I see is the reason for the hurt and pain I've caused others, people I love and I realize, I can't go back to that. I can't go back. I can never go back to what I was. Its not who I am anymore. I'm NOT the Slayer. I'm a girl."
"Would you prefer not to be the Slayer?"
She shrugged, "I've been the Slayer for so long. I don't think I know how to be anything else. I don't have a job."
Death passed her, sitting down on a bench. "You have a sister. You don't have to be the Slayer to protect her."
"Except being the Slayer I ** Have ** to do. I don't have a choice."
"Buffy!" a voice cried.
The blonde turned, expecting to see either Willow or Tera. She wasn't expecting to see her. She looked around for Death but he was gone, vanished. She laughed and mumbled, "Coward."
"Dawn, I wasn't expecting to see you here."
The girl smiled weakly. She looked down. There was only a small space between them. She looked at the floor as if it was some void, some precipice to easily fall through. For so long, she lived life without her sister; without her protector. She spoke to Willow and Tera out front. They told her it was true - that Buffy was back. Giles called earlier on the in the day after Buffy met the whole Scooby gang at the Magic Box. She didn't believe him and repeatedly shouted that her sister was dead and would be impossible if she came back. The rest of the afternoon was spent crying in bed, cursing Giles for talking blasphemy.
But with her eyes, she could see Buffy obviously was not dead. She was alive. Very alive it scared her. She was afraid if she touched her, she'd sudennly disappear and her dream of sister would return to reality.
"Um, are...how...how did this happen?" Dawn whispered, looking down.
The older Summers' shrugged, pacing around the Danger Room. "I wish I could tell you how and why, but I don't know." She glanced at Dawn and sighed.
She had become so much like their mother. Her brown hair was shorter but her eyes...Her eyes, they were just like their mom's. If Buffy looked close enough, she might have seen their mother's reflection in her eyes. Even if she wanted to look, she wouldn't violate her sister's space, scaring her off.
"Giles called me earlier. He said you were back; you were alive."
Buffy smiled, settling down in the center of the mat. "Leave it to Giles to make an entrance. I'll have to thank him later for that." She paused, gazing up at Dawn. "God, you are so like her."
Dawn nodded, kneeling down, "Like whom?"
"Like mom." She smiled. "Look Dawn, I don't want to force anything of you. I know it's been a rough 10 years for you ---."
She huffed, "Rough doesn't even begin to describe it."
"I'm not forcing you. I would never do that." Buffy huffed herself, "Do you want to go out for a walk? We could head over to the Pub, get some coffee and talk."
Dawn shrugged, whispering, "I'd like that."
**
Dawn fingered her coffee mug as Buffy stared off. It had been years since...Years between them. When she came back, she expected everyone would accept her with open arms. Well, that didn't happen. Giles grabbed her into a huge bear hug. The guys, they were scared. Dawn wouldn't even touch her. She huffed, taking a sip of her cappuccino.
"You know what, I met Death." Buffy stated.
Dawn looked at her as if she was crazy or something. She remembered Dracula...but Death. Either Buffy was crazy or being dead for ten years was starting to make her crazy. Buffy laughed, causing Dawn to laugh.
"No, I'm serious. I met Death, the Grim Reaper, Jack the Ripper...Anyway, he's not all like I expected him to be." Buffy mused.
"What's he like, then?"
She shrugged, "Not bony. He's not all skeleton like Hollywood makes him out to be. He does wear black but not the black robe we're all used to. He doesn't carry a large skiff. I mean, if he does, he's got it well hidden." Buffy took a sip, watching her sister's reaction.
"Does he have personality?" Dawn asked, opening up a bit.
"I don't know. I've only just met him. He likes asking a lot of questions, which can get to be pretty annoying. I mean, here I am, have lots of questions about why I'm back and how and he's asking, "Why do you think you're back?' Like, I know."
Dawn laughed.
"See, I knew I could get you to smile. It never fails." Buffy joked, glancing at the time. It was getting to be pretty late. Usually, in the past, around this time, she'd tell Dawn to go to sleep. Now, she couldn't even do that anymore because she wasn't a kid. She was a woman; they both were. Grown women.
"What's it like up there? I mean, in Heaven. Did you meet Him?" Dawn questioned.
Buffy shrugged, "I wish I could tell you, but I don't remember. I don't remember anything. But I could ask Death. He'd know. He's met Him. They had a fall out; that's why he lives in between."
"You really met Death, didn't you?"
"Hey, I just brought it up because things seemed to be a bit quiet. But I ** really ** met Death. He's not so bad; more stoic than Angel." Buffy joked, "But you know. Time runs by much faster up there and down there. A day would equal 100 years. That's why it appears as if I've never aged."
She nodded, "That makes sense. So, you don't remember anything"
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "I do remember flinging myself into the Hellmouth, electric shocks and darkness but in between, my mind is a blank."
Dawn laughed again, "You could go on Jonathan Edwards: Crossing Over and tell your story...if you wanted to."
"Well, if I die a couple more times and rise each time, then I might think about giving John a call."
"How many times have you risen?" she asked.
Buffy shrugged, "Counting this time, three. The first time, Xander brought me back using CPR, the second time, I was fighting some vamps with Faith and the third time, protecting you."
She looked down, feeling withdrawn again. Buffy raised her hand, placing it on hers and smiled reassuringly. "You know, it was never your fault, right? My dying was not your fault. It was my choice."
"It should have been me. It shouldn't have been you."
"NO! Dawn, I love you. You are my sister. I wasn't about to let some Hell Bitch take your life to get back home. I even told the guys if anyone came near you, I would kill them. But it was NEVER your fault. NEVER. It was my choice, my decision...and I don't regret it." Buffy cried.
Dawn only nodded all right, slumping back in her chair in silence, drinking her coffee.
**
Thankfully, the walk home to Dawn's apartment was nothing like the deafening silence at the Pub. Dawn ranted on and on about what happened since her sister had been dead. Buffy took it all with stride, listening, occasionally jutting in her opinion and laughing whenever Dawn brought something up that warranted laughter.
When they reached her place, Buffy leaned over and hugged her, kissing her cheek. Dawn hugged back, crying. It had been so long since her sister held her back from the dangers of the world. Buffy wiped away some tears, letting go and smiled. She brushed Dawn's bangs away and cried some more.
"I really enjoyed tonight, Buffy."
Buffy smiled back, brushing her bangs away. "Me too, Dawn."
Dawn caught her hand and held it, "Um do you have a place to stay?"
"Yeah. I'm staying at Giles' place."
She nodded okay, looking down. As she opened the door, Dawn glanced back at her sister and smiled, shutting it. Dawn fell onto the floor, but got up, peeking through the window to confirm her feelings. Buffy was still there. She stared at the house, nodded all right, and head down Main Street. It was real. She was real. At the Pub, she thought she was in some nightmare or dream, talking to her dead sister, but she wasn't. She was alive!
Buffy was alive! Her sister was alive! Dawn cries sudennly turned into joyful laughs.
**
Buffy wearily walked into Giles' apartment, removing her coat. It was late; really late and she needed her some beauty sleep. She walked over to the couch; the linens and pillows were set out for her. She smiled, falling onto the couch. As she was about to sleep, she caught a glimpse of Death and screamed.
She fumbled off the couch frantically, turning on the light. Death laughed; she glared at him. "You know what, I was tolerant before but scaring a girl, getting ready for sleep is not funny!"
"I'm sorry, but I'm dying to know how coffee with your sister went?"
"Buffy? What's going on down there?" Giles called from the loft.
Buffy glared at Death, nodding, "I'm just talking to Death! Go back to sleep."
Death raised an eyebrow, smiling. He laughed, dropping onto the couch. "No seriously, how did coffee go? Did the two of you reconnect?"
"We're fine." She retorted, crossing her arms, "Now, get out! I need my beauty sleep."
"Fine. You don't want to talk. I understand, but I know something you don't know." He mused, getting off the couch.
She shook her head, looking up at the ceiling, "Why me? Why did You send him to me?" Buffy put a hand on her head, settling down on the couch. "All right, this is the last thing and you're gone. Understand? I'm tired of playing these games."
"It's about Angel..."
Buffy frowned, taking him by the neck, slamming him against the wall.
"Buffy?" Giles called.
She smiled back, "It's nothing Giles. I'm just holding Death to the wall. I would hold him to gun point but I don't have a gun."
"Oh. Carry on, then."
"Thanks, Giles." She hollered back, glaring at Death. "I'm serious. I'm not in the mood for games, 'cause if this is just a game, I want out." Buffy paused, "What do you know about Angel?"
"First, less strain on the neck please."
She laughed, "You're Death. You don't have a respiratory system!"
"First less strain on the neck please. These clothes wrinkle so easily if not taken care of properly."
Buffy nodded, laughing hysterically, "You want me to lesson my grip on your neck because you don't want to ruin your clothes? Well, excuse for not caring! Now, about Angel... What do you know?"
He shrugged, causing Buffy to yell, loosening her grip on his neck. "I swear, if I die again, it's because you annoyed me to death." She rolled her eyes, abruptly leaving the apartment.
Death smiled, fixing his suit and tie. "I love my job." He snapped his fingers and disappeared as well.
TBC
"Giles! Are you guys here? Hey, anybody in?" Buffy called as she entered the Magic Box. She glanced back at Willow, Tera and Death and they shrugged. She nodded to the guys to stay put, while she checked out the training room. Training room. It had been 10 years since she'd seen it. She smiled, leaning back on the doorsill.
She remembered coming into the room Giles furnished to meet her slaying needs. A dummy, Xander constructed. He was even a dummy once himself. It was after Riley left her and she needed to lose some energy and it just so happened Xander was there. Giles came from the front, carrying a massive protective padding. Buffy smiled.
Oh, the memories. There were so many. When the Council came and tested her, she killed the dummy she was supposed to protect. Of course, if she had her choice, it would be Quentin and the other Watchers, but mainly Quentin.
How so much had changed since those days. She was now thirty years old; still looked the same as they day she died. Still small but very strong and extremely deadly...and temper. Her outlet for that temper was patrol, kicking some demon or vampire ass. It helped. Slaying always helped.
She leaned back on the doorsill, lost in thought, she didn't even recognize someone enter. "Buffy?"
The girl nodded, "I never realized how much I missed this place. Giles made it for me. He and Xander worked day and night to perfect it." She smiled, leaning against the door. "When I got dressed for work out, I cried. Everything was so perfect. Now, I look at it, all I see is..."
"What? What do you see?"
Buffy nodded, turning to Death. "All I see is the reason for the hurt and pain I've caused others, people I love and I realize, I can't go back to that. I can't go back. I can never go back to what I was. Its not who I am anymore. I'm NOT the Slayer. I'm a girl."
"Would you prefer not to be the Slayer?"
She shrugged, "I've been the Slayer for so long. I don't think I know how to be anything else. I don't have a job."
Death passed her, sitting down on a bench. "You have a sister. You don't have to be the Slayer to protect her."
"Except being the Slayer I ** Have ** to do. I don't have a choice."
"Buffy!" a voice cried.
The blonde turned, expecting to see either Willow or Tera. She wasn't expecting to see her. She looked around for Death but he was gone, vanished. She laughed and mumbled, "Coward."
"Dawn, I wasn't expecting to see you here."
The girl smiled weakly. She looked down. There was only a small space between them. She looked at the floor as if it was some void, some precipice to easily fall through. For so long, she lived life without her sister; without her protector. She spoke to Willow and Tera out front. They told her it was true - that Buffy was back. Giles called earlier on the in the day after Buffy met the whole Scooby gang at the Magic Box. She didn't believe him and repeatedly shouted that her sister was dead and would be impossible if she came back. The rest of the afternoon was spent crying in bed, cursing Giles for talking blasphemy.
But with her eyes, she could see Buffy obviously was not dead. She was alive. Very alive it scared her. She was afraid if she touched her, she'd sudennly disappear and her dream of sister would return to reality.
"Um, are...how...how did this happen?" Dawn whispered, looking down.
The older Summers' shrugged, pacing around the Danger Room. "I wish I could tell you how and why, but I don't know." She glanced at Dawn and sighed.
She had become so much like their mother. Her brown hair was shorter but her eyes...Her eyes, they were just like their mom's. If Buffy looked close enough, she might have seen their mother's reflection in her eyes. Even if she wanted to look, she wouldn't violate her sister's space, scaring her off.
"Giles called me earlier. He said you were back; you were alive."
Buffy smiled, settling down in the center of the mat. "Leave it to Giles to make an entrance. I'll have to thank him later for that." She paused, gazing up at Dawn. "God, you are so like her."
Dawn nodded, kneeling down, "Like whom?"
"Like mom." She smiled. "Look Dawn, I don't want to force anything of you. I know it's been a rough 10 years for you ---."
She huffed, "Rough doesn't even begin to describe it."
"I'm not forcing you. I would never do that." Buffy huffed herself, "Do you want to go out for a walk? We could head over to the Pub, get some coffee and talk."
Dawn shrugged, whispering, "I'd like that."
**
Dawn fingered her coffee mug as Buffy stared off. It had been years since...Years between them. When she came back, she expected everyone would accept her with open arms. Well, that didn't happen. Giles grabbed her into a huge bear hug. The guys, they were scared. Dawn wouldn't even touch her. She huffed, taking a sip of her cappuccino.
"You know what, I met Death." Buffy stated.
Dawn looked at her as if she was crazy or something. She remembered Dracula...but Death. Either Buffy was crazy or being dead for ten years was starting to make her crazy. Buffy laughed, causing Dawn to laugh.
"No, I'm serious. I met Death, the Grim Reaper, Jack the Ripper...Anyway, he's not all like I expected him to be." Buffy mused.
"What's he like, then?"
She shrugged, "Not bony. He's not all skeleton like Hollywood makes him out to be. He does wear black but not the black robe we're all used to. He doesn't carry a large skiff. I mean, if he does, he's got it well hidden." Buffy took a sip, watching her sister's reaction.
"Does he have personality?" Dawn asked, opening up a bit.
"I don't know. I've only just met him. He likes asking a lot of questions, which can get to be pretty annoying. I mean, here I am, have lots of questions about why I'm back and how and he's asking, "Why do you think you're back?' Like, I know."
Dawn laughed.
"See, I knew I could get you to smile. It never fails." Buffy joked, glancing at the time. It was getting to be pretty late. Usually, in the past, around this time, she'd tell Dawn to go to sleep. Now, she couldn't even do that anymore because she wasn't a kid. She was a woman; they both were. Grown women.
"What's it like up there? I mean, in Heaven. Did you meet Him?" Dawn questioned.
Buffy shrugged, "I wish I could tell you, but I don't remember. I don't remember anything. But I could ask Death. He'd know. He's met Him. They had a fall out; that's why he lives in between."
"You really met Death, didn't you?"
"Hey, I just brought it up because things seemed to be a bit quiet. But I ** really ** met Death. He's not so bad; more stoic than Angel." Buffy joked, "But you know. Time runs by much faster up there and down there. A day would equal 100 years. That's why it appears as if I've never aged."
She nodded, "That makes sense. So, you don't remember anything"
Buffy raised an eyebrow. "I do remember flinging myself into the Hellmouth, electric shocks and darkness but in between, my mind is a blank."
Dawn laughed again, "You could go on Jonathan Edwards: Crossing Over and tell your story...if you wanted to."
"Well, if I die a couple more times and rise each time, then I might think about giving John a call."
"How many times have you risen?" she asked.
Buffy shrugged, "Counting this time, three. The first time, Xander brought me back using CPR, the second time, I was fighting some vamps with Faith and the third time, protecting you."
She looked down, feeling withdrawn again. Buffy raised her hand, placing it on hers and smiled reassuringly. "You know, it was never your fault, right? My dying was not your fault. It was my choice."
"It should have been me. It shouldn't have been you."
"NO! Dawn, I love you. You are my sister. I wasn't about to let some Hell Bitch take your life to get back home. I even told the guys if anyone came near you, I would kill them. But it was NEVER your fault. NEVER. It was my choice, my decision...and I don't regret it." Buffy cried.
Dawn only nodded all right, slumping back in her chair in silence, drinking her coffee.
**
Thankfully, the walk home to Dawn's apartment was nothing like the deafening silence at the Pub. Dawn ranted on and on about what happened since her sister had been dead. Buffy took it all with stride, listening, occasionally jutting in her opinion and laughing whenever Dawn brought something up that warranted laughter.
When they reached her place, Buffy leaned over and hugged her, kissing her cheek. Dawn hugged back, crying. It had been so long since her sister held her back from the dangers of the world. Buffy wiped away some tears, letting go and smiled. She brushed Dawn's bangs away and cried some more.
"I really enjoyed tonight, Buffy."
Buffy smiled back, brushing her bangs away. "Me too, Dawn."
Dawn caught her hand and held it, "Um do you have a place to stay?"
"Yeah. I'm staying at Giles' place."
She nodded okay, looking down. As she opened the door, Dawn glanced back at her sister and smiled, shutting it. Dawn fell onto the floor, but got up, peeking through the window to confirm her feelings. Buffy was still there. She stared at the house, nodded all right, and head down Main Street. It was real. She was real. At the Pub, she thought she was in some nightmare or dream, talking to her dead sister, but she wasn't. She was alive!
Buffy was alive! Her sister was alive! Dawn cries sudennly turned into joyful laughs.
**
Buffy wearily walked into Giles' apartment, removing her coat. It was late; really late and she needed her some beauty sleep. She walked over to the couch; the linens and pillows were set out for her. She smiled, falling onto the couch. As she was about to sleep, she caught a glimpse of Death and screamed.
She fumbled off the couch frantically, turning on the light. Death laughed; she glared at him. "You know what, I was tolerant before but scaring a girl, getting ready for sleep is not funny!"
"I'm sorry, but I'm dying to know how coffee with your sister went?"
"Buffy? What's going on down there?" Giles called from the loft.
Buffy glared at Death, nodding, "I'm just talking to Death! Go back to sleep."
Death raised an eyebrow, smiling. He laughed, dropping onto the couch. "No seriously, how did coffee go? Did the two of you reconnect?"
"We're fine." She retorted, crossing her arms, "Now, get out! I need my beauty sleep."
"Fine. You don't want to talk. I understand, but I know something you don't know." He mused, getting off the couch.
She shook her head, looking up at the ceiling, "Why me? Why did You send him to me?" Buffy put a hand on her head, settling down on the couch. "All right, this is the last thing and you're gone. Understand? I'm tired of playing these games."
"It's about Angel..."
Buffy frowned, taking him by the neck, slamming him against the wall.
"Buffy?" Giles called.
She smiled back, "It's nothing Giles. I'm just holding Death to the wall. I would hold him to gun point but I don't have a gun."
"Oh. Carry on, then."
"Thanks, Giles." She hollered back, glaring at Death. "I'm serious. I'm not in the mood for games, 'cause if this is just a game, I want out." Buffy paused, "What do you know about Angel?"
"First, less strain on the neck please."
She laughed, "You're Death. You don't have a respiratory system!"
"First less strain on the neck please. These clothes wrinkle so easily if not taken care of properly."
Buffy nodded, laughing hysterically, "You want me to lesson my grip on your neck because you don't want to ruin your clothes? Well, excuse for not caring! Now, about Angel... What do you know?"
He shrugged, causing Buffy to yell, loosening her grip on his neck. "I swear, if I die again, it's because you annoyed me to death." She rolled her eyes, abruptly leaving the apartment.
Death smiled, fixing his suit and tie. "I love my job." He snapped his fingers and disappeared as well.
TBC
