Buffy went to check out her apartment. It had been totally redone, the damages fixed and the destroyed items removed. It looked empty without furniture and Buffy heaved a heavy sigh.

            She dropped her bag on the floor and walked into her room, stopping short at the sight of her pig tucked into a corner on the floor. She walked over, picked it up and hugged it before dissolving into tears.

            She didn't know what to think. She thought she had prepared herself for this relationship with Methos to be temporary. After all, he was just here visiting. Buffy had felt a measure of safety; if she knew he was leaving she couldn't fall in love with him. That protective measure had cracked like an egg when she had seen the hurt in his eyes.

            Not wanting to think about what her feelings were, she grabbed her gym bag and ran out.

            At the dojo the girls were quietly chatting when Buffy walked in. She went straight to the locker room to change. When she walked by and didn't acknowledge them or even say hi, but started stretching, Riley gave the others a look and went to call Mac.

            Richie heard the pounding of the punching bag and left the office to see Buffy beating the stuffing out of the punching bag, misery plain on her face. He turned and went back into the office to call Mac but saw that Riley had beaten him to it.

            "Hi Mac, this is Riley. Yes, I know you recognize each of our beautiful voices. Listen, Buffy is here beating the crap out of the punching bag. You may need to string up Mr. Pierson from the highest tree. Ok, see you soon." She hung up and looked at Richie.

            "How do you know it was Adam's fault?" he asked and she smiled, "Why were you going to call Mac?" she asked wisely.

 He shrugged, "I know Adam?" He replied lamely. Riley snorted and walked back out to the girls.

Duncan hung up the phone after Riley's call and closed his eyes at the sheer stupidity of his friend.

"Damn it Methos, what in the hell have you done?" he asked rhetorically. He was about to pick up the phone and dial when it rang.

"McLeod." He answered, not in the mood for another telemarketer.

"Highlander? I screwed up. I've lost her." Methos voice was full of despair.

"What did you do?" Duncan asked.

Methos paced the bedroom, assaulted by memories of Buffy. "I came back from London and saw Buffy. Oh God, I missed her so much and I saw her and my heart jumped in my chest. I panicked, and I picked a fight. I don't want to love anyone, it hurt too much after Alexa!" Methos rambled and Duncan sank onto his couch with a sigh.

"You're an idiot Methos. You already love her, it's too late to go back."

Methos grimaced, "Thanks wise friend, don't you think I bloody well know that?"

Duncan chuckled, "So what is your plan? Are you coming to the base with us tonight?"

Methos rubbed his eyes, "She's going to have Angel, she won't need me."

"Dinna be daft. You dinna leave the field open for the enemy, that's not the way to win her back." Duncan snapped, exasperation with his lovesick friend evident in his voice.

"Alright, I'll see you at the dojo." Methos sighed and hung up. He walked over to stare at himself in the old mirror of the oak wardrobe. He ran an unsteady hand through his hair, checking himself over critically. He looked the same as he had for thousands of years but somehow that was no comfort. His hazel eyes stared back, reflecting confusion and other emotions. Turning abruptly he got changed for the nights event. He dreaded it but didn't know why.

            The Scoobies, including Angel and Giles arrived just after dark. (cars had tinted windows). Buffy hugged her sister and cried for a minute, then noticed that Xander and Dawn were holding hands.

            "Ok, what's this?" She asked, looking from her sister to her old friend.

            "Don't get mad Buffy, but we're dating." Xander stammered. Buffy regarded them silently then smiled her thousand watt smile. "I am so happy for you. Two of my favorite people in the world are together!" She wrapped her arms around them both and burst into tears. Xander shot a panicky look at Giles and Willow. Willow looked at Duncan who shook his head and mouthed, 'Later'.

            "Where's Mr. Pierson?" Willow asked and Buffy stepped back and accepted Giles handkerchief, "I don't know if he's coming." She said quietly and wiped her face. Willow made a face at Duncan who nodded. The roar of the Jag was heard and Buffy sighed, stuffing the handkerchief into her pocket. Methos stepped out of the Jag and was introduced, and then there was strained silence.

Buffy turned to Giles, "According to Angel and Dawn this vamp Lavoie has been smuggling vamps from Europe through China, putting them in shipping containers disguised as refugees. Then they put actual refugees in with them and on the long trip to Seattle the vamps have a mid cruise snack. We are going to go to Seattle and take out Lavoie and break the neck of his operation." She looked at everyone except Angel and Methos.

Willow nodded, "I have the police report on where the container was found. The last shipment was yesterday and the container was stored at the abandoned shipyard. Find the containers and we'll probably find the vamps too." She added.

Duncan cleared his throat, "Ok. Buffy, you're going with Giles, Willow, Xander, Dawn and Riley. Angel will ride with me, Teá, Mary and Eva. Adam, you and Richie will take your Jag. "Is that everyone?" Buffy met Mac's eyes with gratitude and he winked.

Adam was quiet as he and Richie headed to Seattle.

"So what kind of stupid thing did you do, 'Oh, oldest most experienced immortal of us all?'" He asked.

"Shut up Richie."

"Going to be a looong ride." Richie mumbled, and crossed his arms.

Angel sat in front with Duncan and the girls rode in back. The silence was thick until Eva leaned forward, "Excuse me Angel. How long have you known Buffy?" she asked. Angel turned slightly in his seat, "I've known her since she was 15."

The girls looked at each other, "How did you meet?" Teá asked and Angel smiled, "My favorite story, settle back, it's a bit long." Angel regaled them with how he had known she was the slayer and would help her out because of his soul, even though she didn't know he was a vamp. He also told about his first gift to protect her.

"A cross?" Mary asked, fascinated. The girls peppered him with questions and Duncan listened with interest about the early career of his friend.

Giles and the others were catching up with Buffy, who told them embarrassing stories about the girls and Mac and Richie. She was also full of praise, so much so that Riley blushed. No one mentioned Adam and Buffy was grateful.

They arrived at the abandoned Puget Sound Naval Base and parked in the off base parking. Everyone piled out of the cars and Mac laughed suddenly, "I shipped out of here in W…when I was in the Navy." He said carefully and Buffy smiled at the quick evasion.

Looking around you could see stacks and stacks of shipping containers. They were red or green or white and had various flags from different countries and various company logos on them. Angel and Duncan did recon while Giles and Buffy checked the girls gear and gave them a quiet pep talk. Methos stood with Xander, his eyes never leaving Buffy. Dawn exchanged an eye roll with Xander, smiling at Buffy's ever complicated lovelife.

Duncan and Angel were crouched in between stacks listening quietly. Duncan touched Angel's shoulder and pointed at the faint figure ahead at the end of the row and Angel nodded. The men moved forward and Angel knocked the guard out, the staked him. They looked at each other grimly, there should have been human guards but so far they had only found vamps. Angel looked around, then pointed. "I sense vamps in that direction." He said quietly and they moved out. Angel scouted the area out, and was astounded to find that there were only 10 guards, the rest of the vamps were inside, not having left to go hunting yet.

They split up. Duncan leading one group, Methos with him, and Angel lead the other with Buffy choosing to be with him. Angel threw a triumphant look at Methos who regarded him with malice.

The plan was this, Angel would confront the vamps and Duncan would set c-4 and blow it to smithereens. The more vamps inside the better. Angel would take control of any assets and provide for the families of the dead Chinese. That was the plan, but as everyone knows plans go to hell in a handbasket.

He reported back to the others and Buffy sat quietly, then spoke, "We keep the two groups, we'll take the front with Angel, Duncan, your group takes the back door while you and Giles set the charges. Angel will enter and I'll take out Lavoie then we'll lock in the rest of the vamps and blow the place. If they try to escape then we'll battle, but keep it by the doors so we can escape when the call comes. Girls, be alert and watch for the signal from either Adam or Angel. Xander will be staying out with Willow to take out any escapees and to lock the doors. Understood?" There were nods and both Duncan and Methos were impressed by her flair for tactics.

Xander was with the second group by the back door and Willow was with them in the front.

Angel stood in front of the doors and sighed then slammed them open with his foot. The vampires in the room, including the one on the throne heard the crash and went silent, gazing at the vamp in the door. What they saw was an obviously powerful vampire dressed totally in black and wearing a black leather duster, framed in the open doorway.

"Shame on you Lavoie. Did you learn nothing from me? No guards posted? How negligent." He drawled and sauntered into the room, his duster fluttering behind him dramatically, everyone facing him.

"Why Angelus, what an unpleasant surprise. Did you have an appointment? Oh wait," the Frenchman said sarcastically, all the vamps facing him now like they had been watching a tennis match, "Aren't you a souled vampire now?" and suddenly the watching vamps looked more menacingly at Angel.

In the doorway behind him Buffy, Riley, Mary, and Dawn stood and the waiting vamps could sense the Slayers.

"No, but your appointments are all canceled now anyway." Angel replied with a shrug and Buffy pulled the crossbow from behind her back, shot Lavoie in the chest and he exploded into a cloud of dust.

"Oh, well done Buffy." Angel applauded and Buffy shook her head and smiled. The vamps attacked en masse and the teams were kept busy. The back door was wrenched open by a desperate vamp and he was met by Methos and Richie with their swords and more Slayers. The battle swept them up and the two teams kept most of the vamps from escaping, when Duncan gave the signal to pull out. At that moment Buffy had the misfortune to be knocked to the ground and trampled by running vamps before getting back up and seeing the doors closed. "Son of a gun, I knew it." Buffy complained.

Everyone met back out where Duncan was when he depressed the button. As the explosions began Methos looked around, "Where's Buffy?" Willow whirled and her eyes went wide, "She's still in there."

Xander and Dawn looked at each other, Buffy had pulled stuff like this before. Duncan stood abruptly, "Oh Damn." Methos shook his head sharply in denial, his eyes met Duncan's in anguish they both started running towards the explosions, Angel racing behind them.

Buffy heard the beginning of the explosion and headed for the nearest window and jumped out, her ascent helped along but the concussion of the blast. She flew through the air and landed hard, then tumbled into a gravel parking lot. She lifted her head shakily, saw the fire and passed out.

As the last of the explosions happened Methos thought he saw something fly from the back window. Angel smelled her at the same time and they both raced for the parking lot. Methos beat Angel and skidded onto his knees beside Buffy and turned her over, wincing at the scrapes on her hands. He began to feel for broken bones when her eyes fluttered open, "Yay, I made it." she whispered.

Methos cupped her face, "Please, please don't do that again."