Rating: PG, though not much objectionable actually happens
Feedback: Thank you kindly Melpomenethalia@aol.com
Spoilers: For "The Gift"
Distribution: Here. If you're interested, please let me know.
Summary: Buffy jumped through the big old portal and died. This is my take on what happens to her next.
Disclaimer: All characters are owned by Mutant Enemy (Joss Whedon), a wonderfully creative company whose characters I have borrowed for a completely profit-free flight of fancy. Kindly do not sue me, please, as I am terrified of you. Thank you.
Part 9
Buffy squinted at the scene before her and became even more confused. She was obviously in Giles's living room, that much she could tell. But there only appeared to be one person present, and she'd never laid eyes on him before. Even more bizarre was the fact that Buffy was still viewing the world from the level of souls, and the man, instead of appearing as a bright light, looked perfectly normal. He was standing next to a bookcase, peering at the titles with an interested look on his face.
"What the…" Buffy began, speaking to Drusilla, who had appeared at her shoulder, but to her amazement, the man turned around at the sound of her voice.
"Hey! You gotta be Buffy, right?" the man asked as he grinned broadly and walked across the room, passing directly through the table.
"Uh, yeah, that would be me," Buffy responded carefully, looking to the other two spirits for reassurance. Attempting a quick test, Buffy returned her vision momentarily to the physical level, and the stranger disappeared from her view completely. Whoever he was, a normal mortal wouldn't be able to see him.
"He's just a ghost," Darla explained in a mildly bored voice. "They don't look the same as us because they still feel more connected to the regular, humdrum, physical world than the next level up."
"So, he's not quite human, but he doesn't want to be a spirit, so," Buffy tried to follow the reasoning slowly.
"So I can hear everything you're saying," the man interrupted with a slightly annoyed tone. "I have stuff I still need to do down here, so I still look, for all intents and purposes, like a human to you."
"Sorry. Didn't mean to be rude," Buffy apologized. "Guess I've just gotten used to no one being able to hear me."
"Ah, it's okay. By the way, the name's Dennis," the ghost said as he stuck out his hand. The Slayer shook it uncertainly. "And you two other lovelies would be…?"
"I'm Drusilla and that's Darla," the brunette replied in a friendly voice, gesturing towards Darla, who had now taken up residence on the couch. "How is it that you happen to be here?"
"I room with Cordelia. She's in town for the funeral with the rest of the L.A. crew," Dennis told her.
"My condolences," Buffy offered sympathetically.
"But you're the one who died," he said bemusedly.
"No, about you having to live with Cordelia." Buffy smiled as he rolled his eyes comically. Suddenly, she remembered why they'd arrived in the first place.
"Where's William?" she asked quickly, glancing around as though she expected to see the now familiar spirit perching on the kitchen counter.
"Upstairs, I believe," Drusilla said quietly.
In a flash, Buffy whipped up the staircase only to run directly into a very weary William, his soul wonderfully bright, but seeming almost to sag somehow.
"You okay? " she asked gently, resting her hand on his shoulder.
"Yes, I believe everything will be fine now," he said in a tired voice.
"What are you doing here, though? I mean, weren't you supposed to be with Spike?" Buffy questioned him.
"I brought him here. It was the best place for him. He's asleep now, thank goodness, although it took long enough," William said as he plodded wearily down the stairs.