Title: The French Connection
Author: Lily
Rating: PG to PG-13
Spoilers: Bargaining, but really only part one
Disclaimer: pshaw. not mine.
Summary: Yes, the resurrection worked. But no, it didn't wake
Buffy up where she last was (that part seems to have gotten messed
up, no?)...
Author's Note: *la la la* denotes Buffy thoughts
The going was slow, and by the time they had gone ten blocks, the streets were emptying. Buffy stopped walking.
"Come on, it's not much farther. We'll get you cleaned up..." Oz could only whisper words of encouragement and press on her back a little harder. He knew that no city was immune to creatures of the night, and he doubted that Buffy could fight. He would have been able to handle it, if not for having to worry about the woman who was, at that point, clinging to his jacket for support.
Instead of moving forward, Buffy turned to face him, and, after looking around for a few moments, spoke. "Paris?"
Her voice was unsure, but Oz smiled at her recognition of the city. He nodded. "Paris."
"How did I get here?"
Oz started to tell her that he didn't know, but a very distinct feeling distracted him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and his eyes focused beyond Buffy's shoulder, into the dark street behind them. The light from the streetlamps bounced off his feral eyes and a dark figure confirmed what he had smelt. Vampire. Of all the rotten times for one to show up.
Buffy must have noticed, because she too turned to face the alleyway. She looked up at Oz again. He wasn't sure what she was trying to tell him.
"Do you want to go behind that dumpster? There's only one, and I think I can take him. I have a stake." Oz nodded Buffy towards a hiding place and hoped she would be okay.
Before the he could protest, the slayer had taken off, full speed, towards the vampire. Running behind her, Oz saw the unsuspecting creature stand up to stare at the blur hurtling towards him. Oz reached them as Buffy swung her leg up to kick the vamp in the side of its head. Jolted back to reality, it brought back its arm to strike her, but Buffy grabbed the arm and twisted. Hard. Howling in pain, the vampire backed towards the wall.
"Oz! Stake!"
Still pummeling it with one fist, Buffy reached out a hand, perfectly timed to catch the stake that Oz tossed her way. She drove the wood home and stepped back to avoid the dust.
Turning around, she saw Oz standing against the opposite wall of the alley, hands in his pockets. "Let's go," he said softly and with a smile.
The fire of the fight faded from her eyes as she nodded.
**end two-b**