Buffy and the Slayer
Chapter 1
They were big. And they were strong. Like over-sized football players. And they were mean. It was all Buffy could do to keep away from their immense ham hock-like fists. As soon as she knocked one away, the other was there. Spinning kicks and roundhouse punches only stunned them momentarily.
Then an opening! A quick stake to the heart and one was dust. But the other had her. As soon as she turned around he was there, his enormous arms encircled her. He picked her up, squeezing her as a python would crush its helpless prey. His fetid mouth was near hers, the smell of rotted blood assaulted her nose. As the breath was forced from her, she felt her ribs begin to crack.
In desperation Buffy tried a head butt against the bridge of his nose. He only laughed at her feeble attempt, his foul breath gagging her. As she turned her head to escape the smell, through blurring eyes, she saw him again -- a stranger in a dark trench coat; watching.
She'd seen him a half dozen times before, watching her as she dusted vampires and offed demons. At first she thought he was another vampire, waiting his turn. But after each slaying he disappeared into the night.
She vaguely saw him move out of her sight behind this mammoth vampire. Then she heard a shot ring out, and almost before it registered, she was falling to the ground amidst a cloud of dust. And as before, she watched the stranger vanish into the darkness.
As the gang sat around the table listening to Buffy's story, concern and curiosity alternating on their faces.
"You have no idea who he is?" Xander asked.
"I've never seen him before. Of course I haven't gotten a good look at his face, but I didn't even recoginze his shape."
"What about the shot you heard? Could he have been using silver bullets?" Willow wanted to know.
"No. If he had, the bullet would have gone through the vamp and into me. There's no way it would have missed."
"Then what else?" Dawn asked.
For a moment no one said anything. Then Anya speculated, "Wooden bullets?"
"I don't know. It seems like even a wooden bullet would have gone through him as well. I don't know, I JUST don't know."
More silence.
"Xander," Buffy suddenly said, "I need you to do something for me."
"Sure, just name it."
"Tonight I need you to be 'Stealthy Guy.' I want you to follow me around and keep an eye out for this guy. Don't worry about trying to help me with the Slaying, just watch for him. And if you see him, wait until he leaves, then follow him. I want to know where he goes."
"Not a prob. I'll be your back up, so far back you won't even know I'm there."
The night was a slow one for slaying, for a change. Buffy walked the usual haunts - cemeteries, parks, alleys. Only two slayings in almost six hours of patrolling. A welcome relief on the one hand, but frustrating because the mysterious stranger hadn't shown himself.
Xander wasn't much of a "Stealthy Guy" since Buffy knew his every position and move without even trying, but if the stranger was concentrating on her maybe he wouldn't spot "Not-So-Stealthy Guy."
Just before dawn Buffy and Xander parted ways but agreed to meet that evening. Maybe they'd have more luck tonight.
Until a little after twelve, again, there wasn't much action. Then Buffy came across a trio of vamps feasting on some poor, stupid midnight jogger.
Although it was too late to save the man, Buffy went after the vampires. Since they had just fed, they were strong and full of bravado. They gave Buffy almost all she could handle. As soon as her kicks and punches knocked them away, they were back again, ready for more.
As Xander watched the action, he followed Buffy's motions with his own, punching the air with lefts and rights. One was staked, and Xander cheered the dying grunt with "Oh Yeah!"
"She's quite a fighter." Someone said beside him.
"She's the best!" Xander answered, still engrossed with the battle.
"Not going to help her?" the Voice asked.
"Like she really needs it!" Xander boasted. Then he realized there was someone next to him, and they were having a conversation.
Just as Buffy staked the second one, Xander stammered, "You - YOU! What - where ...?"
Taking out a pistol, the Stranger said, "I think I'd like to meet her."
Before Xander could react, the Stranger pointed and fired at the two combatants, and the vampire turned to dust.
Walking toward the waiting Buffy he repeated, "Yes, I think it's time we got to know each other."
"So, you kill vamps with a gun." Buffy said.
"Certainly. Why go through all the in-fighting when it's so much easier to dust them off from a distance?"
"Silver bullets?" She asked.
"Oh no. Silver's much too expensive to waste like that. I used wooden ones." And releasing the clip from the 9 mm pistol, he extracted one from it.
As Buffy examined it, she saw a hole bored in the end of the bullet.
"Hollow point." She stated simply.
"Yes. That way, should it hit a rib, it shatters. It only takes one splinter to kill."
"Okay, so who are you?"
"I don't think names are very important, but if you insist, I guess you can call me ... Angel. Oh, not a good name? Then how about ... Riley? Don't like that one either, huh? Well, I suppose you could call me Parker, or Spike."
Buffy grabbed the Stranger by the lapel of his coat and gave it a little jerk toward herself.
"Look," she said menacingly, "I don't know who you think you are, but you little jokes aren't the least bit funny. Now either you give me a name, or ...."
"Or what? You'll beat me up? Someone who's saved your life, at least once? That's not being very appreciative."
With a disgusted shove, Buffy let go of the lapel. "Come on, Xander, we've got better things to do than to play stupid word games."
As she turned to leave, the Stranger said, "Okay. You want a name? You can call me THE SLAYER."
Before Buffy could answer, the stranger melted away into the darkness.
"Did he say he was a Slayer?" Xander asked.
"He said it." Buffy replied. "But that doesn't make it so."
"But I thought only a girl could be a Slayer." Dawn said as once again everyone was seated around the table in the Magic Box.
"That's what I thought." Willow echoed.
"He's not a Slayer." Buffy told them. "Just because he kills vamps doesn't make him a Slayer."
"He seemed pretty sure of himself." Xander put in. "And how did he know about all your ... boyfriends?"
"I don't think my boyfriends are any secret, except Spike of course." Then seeing the odd/shocked looks on everyone's face, Buffy quickly added, "Spike never was, and never WILL be anything but a pain in my ASS!"
"But the only thing," She continued, "Was the way he said he was a Slayer. It's like he was speaking in all capital letters -- * T H E S L A Y E R ! * Like he really thinks he is one."
"Maybe he does. Maybe he escaped from some looney bin." Anya said.
"So how does he even know about Slayers in the first place?" Willow asked.
"Well, I don't think we're the big secret we're supposed to be, not any more. Not after the Mayor turned into The Big Snake." Buffy explained.
"So now what?" Xander wanted to know.
"Do what I always do -- I'll keep patrolling, he'll show up, and then I can find out more about him."
"Do you want 'Stealthy Guy' watching your back again?"
"No. I don't think he's any threat. Besides, you should be home in bed with Anya, not following me around all night."
"Exactly what I was thinking." Anya said.
The next night was a more average Slaying night, one every couple of hours. Buffy didn't see the stranger until just before dawn.
"I wondered when you'd show up." She said. "Any more clever word games?"
"You are quite the hostile young woman, aren't you?"
"No. But I AM the somewhat irritated Slayer. Just what makes you think YOU are a Slayer anyway?"
"Because I am. What makes you think you are?"
"Well, maybe it's because I've been doing this for the past 5 years. And because I've had an official Watcher most of the time. And because I have this supernatural strength."
"Well, Buffy, it seems like you've been made a fool of all these years. Everyone knows there is no way a mere girl, especially one as skinny as you are, could have the strength and skill necessary to kill vampires and demons."
"You think?" A pissed off Buffy said as she grabbed his lapels, ready to throw him around
a bit. But as hard as she tried, she might as well have tried to throw the Satute of Liberty.
After a few seconds, he pushed her away laughing. She landed fifteen feet away, some of the breath knocked out of her.
"Not so cocky now, huh?" He said. "According to the myth, you are supposed to have the strength of ten men, or at least that's how the story goes. Well, I suppose whatever drugs they've been feeding you all these years may have had made you stronger, but it's not true SLAYER STRENGTH. My strength is that of twenty men; big, strong men."
Not about to let this braggard get the better of her, Buffy launched herself into the air, feet first, at him. Just before she hit him, he slapped her feet to one side and she spun around so her back bounced off his chest. But before she fell, he caught her, raised her over his head, and slammed her to the ground.
Putting his foot unnecessarily on her chest, since she was all but unconscious, he said in a pitying voice, "Give it up, little girl. Go home to you dolls and tea parties, and let the REAL SLAYER do his job."
A half hour later Buffy was able to get to her feet and limp home, grateful no vamps appeared; she knew she was in no condition to fight. On the way she thought she heard a gunshot, then a second.
The next morning, wondering why Buffy wasn't already up and hassling her about hurrying to get ready for school, Dawn softly knocked on Buffy's bedroom door. When there was no answer, she quietly opened it and saw Buffy was still in bed, with her shoes on.
"Buffy?" She asked. "Are you asleep? I'm leaving for school now." When there was no answer, she moved closer to the bed, and then saw blood on Buffy's pillow, a lot of blood.
"Willow!" Dawn screamed as she ran to the door. "Willow! Hurry! Buffy's been hurt!"
Willow ran into the room followed by Tara. As they crowded around the bed, Buffy slowly opened her eyes. But when she tried to move, she groaned.
"Buffy! What happened? You're bleeding!"
"I - I'm okay." Buffy tried to say, but it was obvious she was in a lot of pain.
"It was that Slayer guy wasn't it?" Willow said accusingly. "HE did this to you, didn't he?"
"Yeah." Buffy manage to say. "He got me good."
"The hospital!" Dawn said. "We've got to get her to the hospital."
"NO!" Buffy exclaimed, hurting herself. "No hospital. They'll ask questions. We can't have questions."
"We've got to do SOMETHING." Willow told her.
"Shower. Just help me to the shower. I'll be fine, really."
As gently as they could, Willow and Tara helped Buffy out of the bed and walked her to the bathroom. Dawn turned on the water for her.
"What else?" Willow asked. "Can you get undressed?"
"My shoes? I don't think I can bend down."
Dawn immediately knelt down and began to untie the shoe laces, and using the two witches for balance, Buffy raised each foot so Dawn could take off her shoes and socks.
"You should have changed these socks a week ago." Dawn tried to joke.
"I'll keep that in mind." Buffy kidded back.
"Here, let me do that." Willow said as Buffy tried unbuttoning her blouse. As she slipped off the shirt, they saw just how badly Buffy's back was bruised and cut.
Fighting back the tears, Willow helped remove Buffy's jeans.
"That's good." Buffy said as she stepped into the shower in her bra and panties. But she had to grit her teeth as the hot water soaked into her her blood stained hair and the open gash.
Certain she was all right, they left Buffy alone in the steaming shower.
Tara and Willow walked out of the bathroom and out of Buffy's view. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and for the first time in weeks, they fell into each other's arms, crying and consoling each other.
When Dawn walked into the hallway, in tears, she looked at the two and then started to turn away.
"Dawn." Willow said, putting out a hand to her. And Dawn joined them, crying the hardest, and needing the most comfort.
Buffy stayed in the shower until she felt the water begin to cool. Turning it off, she slipped out of her wet underwear and wrapped a towel around her, feeling a little better, but not much.
When she looked up, Willow was standing in the doorway with gauze and tape. "I need to bandage your head."
Returning to her room, she put on a bathrobe, then sat on the edge of the bed to let Willow doctor her up. When she was finished, a large gauze pad with an antiboitic cream on it was over the gash behind her ear and more gauze wrapped around her head to keep it in place.
As Willow was bandaging Buffy, Dawn removed the blood-stained pillow and replaced it with one of her own.
"Thanks." Was all Buffy managed to say.
"Can I fix you something to eat?" Tara asked.
Buffy gently shook her head. "I'm not very hungry right now."
"We're going to get him." Willow said, now angry. "He's going to pay for this, big, BIG time."
"No, Willow. Don't do anything."
"But I can't let him get away with this. He hurt you; you're my best friend!"
"I know. But for right now, just let it go. I want, I NEED, to know more about him -- Where he came from, where he goes, is he human, or a demon, or a vampire?"
"You don't think he's human?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know. But he's too strong to be human. He said he had the strength of twenty big, strong men, and I believe it. Will, if you have to do something, how about a spell that will let us find him?"
"Sure. We can do that." Willow answered, looking at Tara for confirmation. Tara nodded back at her, happy that Willow wanted to include her.
"I'm kind of tired, you guys won't mind if I get some sleep?"
"Of course not." They told her. "We'll be downstairs if you need anything."
Buffy smiled at them and eased herself down.
As soon as her door was shut, Buffy reached over for the phone and began dialing.
"I'm sorry, but your call cannot go through as dialed. Please hang up and try again." The recording told her.
After two more tries and two more irritating messages, Buffy called the Operator.
"Yes, I'd like to make an overseas call, to London, England...."
"Giles. Hi, it's Buffy ... Not so good ... No, no, everyone is fine, it's me, I have a problem ... Well, there seems to be a new Slayer here ... Let - let me finish ... This new Slayer is a guy! ... That's what I said, a GUY! ... I know, Giles, I know there are no male Slayers ... Because he kicked my ass like it's never been kicked before, that's why! ... He just showed up a week or so ago ... No, not at first, but he did save my life once ... That's what I said. He uses a gun ... I don't know, one of those automatic ones, with hollow point wooden bullets ... Apparently it does, he killed one that had me in a bear hug I couldn't break ... I guess that was my fault. He started playing this name game when I asked him who he was ... The Slayer ... That's it, just The Slayer ... Yeah. Anyway, I tried to throw him around some but I couldn't even budge him ... I tried a running dropkick, but he caught me in midair and threw me down like I was a sack of, of something, I don't know. Giles, I have NEVER been thrown down so hard, not even by Glory ... I don't know, but whatever it is, it won't be anytime soon, I can barely walk, much less do any patrolling. I guess this new Slayer is going to get his wish. He can patrol for a while, at least until I'm back to me ... I don't know, I guess I just needed to talk to you. You don't know how much I miss you, we ALL do ... I know you do. I wish you could do something, too. But like it or not, this is my problem ... I will. You know me - Miss Ever-So-Careful of 2001 ... You too ... Yeah, G'bye."
For a while Buffy held the phone, looking at it, missing Giles, and wondering how she was going to get though this without him. Then wiping away tears, she eased herself back down onto her bruised back and closed her eyes. Within seconds she was asleep.
Meanwhile downstairs, the three young women were trying to decide what they should do.
"I suppose we should tell Xander." Tara said.
"Yeah," Willow answered. "If we don't he'll really be mad when he finds out. I guess should call him." She said, heading to the kitchen. "I'll be right back."
"Can't you do some kind of healing spell?" Dawn asked Tara.
With an apologetic smile, Tara replied, "No. For some reason, they never seem to work out. But we can do one so she'll sleep a long time, to give herself time to heal."
"How long?"
"A few days."
"Won't she pee in the bed if she sleeps that long?"
"Oh yeah, I guess she would."
Coming back into the living room, Willow said, "He sure was mad. He wants to go out tonight to try to find this guy. But I told him Buffy wanted us to wait until she was better. What were you two talking about?"
"Tara said she could make Buffy sleep two or three days to let her get better, but I wondered if she would pee in the bed." Dawn answered.
"It's a good idea, but I don't think Buffy'd like waking up in a pee bed. But I promised her we'd try to find him, so we can work on THAT spell." Willow told them.
"Can I watch?" Dawn asked.
"Sure." Willow told her, "I think this is a special ocassion. I'm sure Buffy wouldn't mind."
When Buffy slowly opened her eyes, it was dark. Rolling to one side to look at her bedside clock, the pain in her back reminded her again just how much she had been hurt. Forcing her eyes to focus, she read 12:55.
"I slept almost 18 hours?" She thought. She then realized how much her bladder was aching and she knew if she didn't get to the bathroom, she was going to have an accident. But when she tried sitting up, the temptation to just let it go was unusually strong, but she didn't.
Somehow she managed to get to her feet. Once up, it wasn't so bad. And even the walk down the hall to the bathroom was bearable. But when she realized that after sitting down on the toilet, she'd have to get back UP again, she knew she would have to make other arrangements.
Looking at the sink, she decided that was too unsanitary. "I could take off my robe and pee in the the shower, but that would mean I'd have to take another one, and I'd rather not."
Then she looked at the toilet again. "If they can stand up, then why can't I?"
And after bending down only enough to raise the seat, Buffy straddled the bowl and let it go, and go, and go.
When she was finished, she decided not to flush; she didn't want to wake anyone up, since it was obvious they were all sleeping.
After the trip back to her room, slowly easing back into bed, and getting as comfortable as possible, Buffy realized she was no longer sleepy. So for the next few hours she replayed over and over in her mind her encounter with the so-called Slayer (she couldn't really call it a fight), and replayed it, and replayed it, wondering how she could have let herself be so badly beaten. And trying to think of any weaknesses she should have seen. As far as she could remember, there were none.
Eventually she fell back asleep. The next thing she knew, she heard Dawn talking to Willow somewhere down the hall.
"Are you sure Xander didn't come over after I went to bed?"
"Sure, I'm sure, why?"
"Because the toilet is full of pee and the seat is up!"
"Huh? Are you SURE?"
"Look for yourself, I just walked in there, and there it was."
Despite herself, Buffy had to smile at their confusion. Well, just let them guess. A little mystery never hurt.
Chapter 1
They were big. And they were strong. Like over-sized football players. And they were mean. It was all Buffy could do to keep away from their immense ham hock-like fists. As soon as she knocked one away, the other was there. Spinning kicks and roundhouse punches only stunned them momentarily.
Then an opening! A quick stake to the heart and one was dust. But the other had her. As soon as she turned around he was there, his enormous arms encircled her. He picked her up, squeezing her as a python would crush its helpless prey. His fetid mouth was near hers, the smell of rotted blood assaulted her nose. As the breath was forced from her, she felt her ribs begin to crack.
In desperation Buffy tried a head butt against the bridge of his nose. He only laughed at her feeble attempt, his foul breath gagging her. As she turned her head to escape the smell, through blurring eyes, she saw him again -- a stranger in a dark trench coat; watching.
She'd seen him a half dozen times before, watching her as she dusted vampires and offed demons. At first she thought he was another vampire, waiting his turn. But after each slaying he disappeared into the night.
She vaguely saw him move out of her sight behind this mammoth vampire. Then she heard a shot ring out, and almost before it registered, she was falling to the ground amidst a cloud of dust. And as before, she watched the stranger vanish into the darkness.
As the gang sat around the table listening to Buffy's story, concern and curiosity alternating on their faces.
"You have no idea who he is?" Xander asked.
"I've never seen him before. Of course I haven't gotten a good look at his face, but I didn't even recoginze his shape."
"What about the shot you heard? Could he have been using silver bullets?" Willow wanted to know.
"No. If he had, the bullet would have gone through the vamp and into me. There's no way it would have missed."
"Then what else?" Dawn asked.
For a moment no one said anything. Then Anya speculated, "Wooden bullets?"
"I don't know. It seems like even a wooden bullet would have gone through him as well. I don't know, I JUST don't know."
More silence.
"Xander," Buffy suddenly said, "I need you to do something for me."
"Sure, just name it."
"Tonight I need you to be 'Stealthy Guy.' I want you to follow me around and keep an eye out for this guy. Don't worry about trying to help me with the Slaying, just watch for him. And if you see him, wait until he leaves, then follow him. I want to know where he goes."
"Not a prob. I'll be your back up, so far back you won't even know I'm there."
The night was a slow one for slaying, for a change. Buffy walked the usual haunts - cemeteries, parks, alleys. Only two slayings in almost six hours of patrolling. A welcome relief on the one hand, but frustrating because the mysterious stranger hadn't shown himself.
Xander wasn't much of a "Stealthy Guy" since Buffy knew his every position and move without even trying, but if the stranger was concentrating on her maybe he wouldn't spot "Not-So-Stealthy Guy."
Just before dawn Buffy and Xander parted ways but agreed to meet that evening. Maybe they'd have more luck tonight.
Until a little after twelve, again, there wasn't much action. Then Buffy came across a trio of vamps feasting on some poor, stupid midnight jogger.
Although it was too late to save the man, Buffy went after the vampires. Since they had just fed, they were strong and full of bravado. They gave Buffy almost all she could handle. As soon as her kicks and punches knocked them away, they were back again, ready for more.
As Xander watched the action, he followed Buffy's motions with his own, punching the air with lefts and rights. One was staked, and Xander cheered the dying grunt with "Oh Yeah!"
"She's quite a fighter." Someone said beside him.
"She's the best!" Xander answered, still engrossed with the battle.
"Not going to help her?" the Voice asked.
"Like she really needs it!" Xander boasted. Then he realized there was someone next to him, and they were having a conversation.
Just as Buffy staked the second one, Xander stammered, "You - YOU! What - where ...?"
Taking out a pistol, the Stranger said, "I think I'd like to meet her."
Before Xander could react, the Stranger pointed and fired at the two combatants, and the vampire turned to dust.
Walking toward the waiting Buffy he repeated, "Yes, I think it's time we got to know each other."
"So, you kill vamps with a gun." Buffy said.
"Certainly. Why go through all the in-fighting when it's so much easier to dust them off from a distance?"
"Silver bullets?" She asked.
"Oh no. Silver's much too expensive to waste like that. I used wooden ones." And releasing the clip from the 9 mm pistol, he extracted one from it.
As Buffy examined it, she saw a hole bored in the end of the bullet.
"Hollow point." She stated simply.
"Yes. That way, should it hit a rib, it shatters. It only takes one splinter to kill."
"Okay, so who are you?"
"I don't think names are very important, but if you insist, I guess you can call me ... Angel. Oh, not a good name? Then how about ... Riley? Don't like that one either, huh? Well, I suppose you could call me Parker, or Spike."
Buffy grabbed the Stranger by the lapel of his coat and gave it a little jerk toward herself.
"Look," she said menacingly, "I don't know who you think you are, but you little jokes aren't the least bit funny. Now either you give me a name, or ...."
"Or what? You'll beat me up? Someone who's saved your life, at least once? That's not being very appreciative."
With a disgusted shove, Buffy let go of the lapel. "Come on, Xander, we've got better things to do than to play stupid word games."
As she turned to leave, the Stranger said, "Okay. You want a name? You can call me THE SLAYER."
Before Buffy could answer, the stranger melted away into the darkness.
"Did he say he was a Slayer?" Xander asked.
"He said it." Buffy replied. "But that doesn't make it so."
"But I thought only a girl could be a Slayer." Dawn said as once again everyone was seated around the table in the Magic Box.
"That's what I thought." Willow echoed.
"He's not a Slayer." Buffy told them. "Just because he kills vamps doesn't make him a Slayer."
"He seemed pretty sure of himself." Xander put in. "And how did he know about all your ... boyfriends?"
"I don't think my boyfriends are any secret, except Spike of course." Then seeing the odd/shocked looks on everyone's face, Buffy quickly added, "Spike never was, and never WILL be anything but a pain in my ASS!"
"But the only thing," She continued, "Was the way he said he was a Slayer. It's like he was speaking in all capital letters -- * T H E S L A Y E R ! * Like he really thinks he is one."
"Maybe he does. Maybe he escaped from some looney bin." Anya said.
"So how does he even know about Slayers in the first place?" Willow asked.
"Well, I don't think we're the big secret we're supposed to be, not any more. Not after the Mayor turned into The Big Snake." Buffy explained.
"So now what?" Xander wanted to know.
"Do what I always do -- I'll keep patrolling, he'll show up, and then I can find out more about him."
"Do you want 'Stealthy Guy' watching your back again?"
"No. I don't think he's any threat. Besides, you should be home in bed with Anya, not following me around all night."
"Exactly what I was thinking." Anya said.
The next night was a more average Slaying night, one every couple of hours. Buffy didn't see the stranger until just before dawn.
"I wondered when you'd show up." She said. "Any more clever word games?"
"You are quite the hostile young woman, aren't you?"
"No. But I AM the somewhat irritated Slayer. Just what makes you think YOU are a Slayer anyway?"
"Because I am. What makes you think you are?"
"Well, maybe it's because I've been doing this for the past 5 years. And because I've had an official Watcher most of the time. And because I have this supernatural strength."
"Well, Buffy, it seems like you've been made a fool of all these years. Everyone knows there is no way a mere girl, especially one as skinny as you are, could have the strength and skill necessary to kill vampires and demons."
"You think?" A pissed off Buffy said as she grabbed his lapels, ready to throw him around
a bit. But as hard as she tried, she might as well have tried to throw the Satute of Liberty.
After a few seconds, he pushed her away laughing. She landed fifteen feet away, some of the breath knocked out of her.
"Not so cocky now, huh?" He said. "According to the myth, you are supposed to have the strength of ten men, or at least that's how the story goes. Well, I suppose whatever drugs they've been feeding you all these years may have had made you stronger, but it's not true SLAYER STRENGTH. My strength is that of twenty men; big, strong men."
Not about to let this braggard get the better of her, Buffy launched herself into the air, feet first, at him. Just before she hit him, he slapped her feet to one side and she spun around so her back bounced off his chest. But before she fell, he caught her, raised her over his head, and slammed her to the ground.
Putting his foot unnecessarily on her chest, since she was all but unconscious, he said in a pitying voice, "Give it up, little girl. Go home to you dolls and tea parties, and let the REAL SLAYER do his job."
A half hour later Buffy was able to get to her feet and limp home, grateful no vamps appeared; she knew she was in no condition to fight. On the way she thought she heard a gunshot, then a second.
The next morning, wondering why Buffy wasn't already up and hassling her about hurrying to get ready for school, Dawn softly knocked on Buffy's bedroom door. When there was no answer, she quietly opened it and saw Buffy was still in bed, with her shoes on.
"Buffy?" She asked. "Are you asleep? I'm leaving for school now." When there was no answer, she moved closer to the bed, and then saw blood on Buffy's pillow, a lot of blood.
"Willow!" Dawn screamed as she ran to the door. "Willow! Hurry! Buffy's been hurt!"
Willow ran into the room followed by Tara. As they crowded around the bed, Buffy slowly opened her eyes. But when she tried to move, she groaned.
"Buffy! What happened? You're bleeding!"
"I - I'm okay." Buffy tried to say, but it was obvious she was in a lot of pain.
"It was that Slayer guy wasn't it?" Willow said accusingly. "HE did this to you, didn't he?"
"Yeah." Buffy manage to say. "He got me good."
"The hospital!" Dawn said. "We've got to get her to the hospital."
"NO!" Buffy exclaimed, hurting herself. "No hospital. They'll ask questions. We can't have questions."
"We've got to do SOMETHING." Willow told her.
"Shower. Just help me to the shower. I'll be fine, really."
As gently as they could, Willow and Tara helped Buffy out of the bed and walked her to the bathroom. Dawn turned on the water for her.
"What else?" Willow asked. "Can you get undressed?"
"My shoes? I don't think I can bend down."
Dawn immediately knelt down and began to untie the shoe laces, and using the two witches for balance, Buffy raised each foot so Dawn could take off her shoes and socks.
"You should have changed these socks a week ago." Dawn tried to joke.
"I'll keep that in mind." Buffy kidded back.
"Here, let me do that." Willow said as Buffy tried unbuttoning her blouse. As she slipped off the shirt, they saw just how badly Buffy's back was bruised and cut.
Fighting back the tears, Willow helped remove Buffy's jeans.
"That's good." Buffy said as she stepped into the shower in her bra and panties. But she had to grit her teeth as the hot water soaked into her her blood stained hair and the open gash.
Certain she was all right, they left Buffy alone in the steaming shower.
Tara and Willow walked out of the bathroom and out of Buffy's view. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and for the first time in weeks, they fell into each other's arms, crying and consoling each other.
When Dawn walked into the hallway, in tears, she looked at the two and then started to turn away.
"Dawn." Willow said, putting out a hand to her. And Dawn joined them, crying the hardest, and needing the most comfort.
Buffy stayed in the shower until she felt the water begin to cool. Turning it off, she slipped out of her wet underwear and wrapped a towel around her, feeling a little better, but not much.
When she looked up, Willow was standing in the doorway with gauze and tape. "I need to bandage your head."
Returning to her room, she put on a bathrobe, then sat on the edge of the bed to let Willow doctor her up. When she was finished, a large gauze pad with an antiboitic cream on it was over the gash behind her ear and more gauze wrapped around her head to keep it in place.
As Willow was bandaging Buffy, Dawn removed the blood-stained pillow and replaced it with one of her own.
"Thanks." Was all Buffy managed to say.
"Can I fix you something to eat?" Tara asked.
Buffy gently shook her head. "I'm not very hungry right now."
"We're going to get him." Willow said, now angry. "He's going to pay for this, big, BIG time."
"No, Willow. Don't do anything."
"But I can't let him get away with this. He hurt you; you're my best friend!"
"I know. But for right now, just let it go. I want, I NEED, to know more about him -- Where he came from, where he goes, is he human, or a demon, or a vampire?"
"You don't think he's human?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know. But he's too strong to be human. He said he had the strength of twenty big, strong men, and I believe it. Will, if you have to do something, how about a spell that will let us find him?"
"Sure. We can do that." Willow answered, looking at Tara for confirmation. Tara nodded back at her, happy that Willow wanted to include her.
"I'm kind of tired, you guys won't mind if I get some sleep?"
"Of course not." They told her. "We'll be downstairs if you need anything."
Buffy smiled at them and eased herself down.
As soon as her door was shut, Buffy reached over for the phone and began dialing.
"I'm sorry, but your call cannot go through as dialed. Please hang up and try again." The recording told her.
After two more tries and two more irritating messages, Buffy called the Operator.
"Yes, I'd like to make an overseas call, to London, England...."
"Giles. Hi, it's Buffy ... Not so good ... No, no, everyone is fine, it's me, I have a problem ... Well, there seems to be a new Slayer here ... Let - let me finish ... This new Slayer is a guy! ... That's what I said, a GUY! ... I know, Giles, I know there are no male Slayers ... Because he kicked my ass like it's never been kicked before, that's why! ... He just showed up a week or so ago ... No, not at first, but he did save my life once ... That's what I said. He uses a gun ... I don't know, one of those automatic ones, with hollow point wooden bullets ... Apparently it does, he killed one that had me in a bear hug I couldn't break ... I guess that was my fault. He started playing this name game when I asked him who he was ... The Slayer ... That's it, just The Slayer ... Yeah. Anyway, I tried to throw him around some but I couldn't even budge him ... I tried a running dropkick, but he caught me in midair and threw me down like I was a sack of, of something, I don't know. Giles, I have NEVER been thrown down so hard, not even by Glory ... I don't know, but whatever it is, it won't be anytime soon, I can barely walk, much less do any patrolling. I guess this new Slayer is going to get his wish. He can patrol for a while, at least until I'm back to me ... I don't know, I guess I just needed to talk to you. You don't know how much I miss you, we ALL do ... I know you do. I wish you could do something, too. But like it or not, this is my problem ... I will. You know me - Miss Ever-So-Careful of 2001 ... You too ... Yeah, G'bye."
For a while Buffy held the phone, looking at it, missing Giles, and wondering how she was going to get though this without him. Then wiping away tears, she eased herself back down onto her bruised back and closed her eyes. Within seconds she was asleep.
Meanwhile downstairs, the three young women were trying to decide what they should do.
"I suppose we should tell Xander." Tara said.
"Yeah," Willow answered. "If we don't he'll really be mad when he finds out. I guess should call him." She said, heading to the kitchen. "I'll be right back."
"Can't you do some kind of healing spell?" Dawn asked Tara.
With an apologetic smile, Tara replied, "No. For some reason, they never seem to work out. But we can do one so she'll sleep a long time, to give herself time to heal."
"How long?"
"A few days."
"Won't she pee in the bed if she sleeps that long?"
"Oh yeah, I guess she would."
Coming back into the living room, Willow said, "He sure was mad. He wants to go out tonight to try to find this guy. But I told him Buffy wanted us to wait until she was better. What were you two talking about?"
"Tara said she could make Buffy sleep two or three days to let her get better, but I wondered if she would pee in the bed." Dawn answered.
"It's a good idea, but I don't think Buffy'd like waking up in a pee bed. But I promised her we'd try to find him, so we can work on THAT spell." Willow told them.
"Can I watch?" Dawn asked.
"Sure." Willow told her, "I think this is a special ocassion. I'm sure Buffy wouldn't mind."
When Buffy slowly opened her eyes, it was dark. Rolling to one side to look at her bedside clock, the pain in her back reminded her again just how much she had been hurt. Forcing her eyes to focus, she read 12:55.
"I slept almost 18 hours?" She thought. She then realized how much her bladder was aching and she knew if she didn't get to the bathroom, she was going to have an accident. But when she tried sitting up, the temptation to just let it go was unusually strong, but she didn't.
Somehow she managed to get to her feet. Once up, it wasn't so bad. And even the walk down the hall to the bathroom was bearable. But when she realized that after sitting down on the toilet, she'd have to get back UP again, she knew she would have to make other arrangements.
Looking at the sink, she decided that was too unsanitary. "I could take off my robe and pee in the the shower, but that would mean I'd have to take another one, and I'd rather not."
Then she looked at the toilet again. "If they can stand up, then why can't I?"
And after bending down only enough to raise the seat, Buffy straddled the bowl and let it go, and go, and go.
When she was finished, she decided not to flush; she didn't want to wake anyone up, since it was obvious they were all sleeping.
After the trip back to her room, slowly easing back into bed, and getting as comfortable as possible, Buffy realized she was no longer sleepy. So for the next few hours she replayed over and over in her mind her encounter with the so-called Slayer (she couldn't really call it a fight), and replayed it, and replayed it, wondering how she could have let herself be so badly beaten. And trying to think of any weaknesses she should have seen. As far as she could remember, there were none.
Eventually she fell back asleep. The next thing she knew, she heard Dawn talking to Willow somewhere down the hall.
"Are you sure Xander didn't come over after I went to bed?"
"Sure, I'm sure, why?"
"Because the toilet is full of pee and the seat is up!"
"Huh? Are you SURE?"
"Look for yourself, I just walked in there, and there it was."
Despite herself, Buffy had to smile at their confusion. Well, just let them guess. A little mystery never hurt.
