Author's Note: Sorry 'bout the delay! One more day and I am free from evil physics! I will probably be able to update much more frequently after this. Anyways, enjoy! (And gimme some feedback!)

Buffy's mind reeled in confusion. Hundreds of conspiracy theories, apocalypse scenarios, and doom plans flooded through her head. It must be Spike. Why else would everybody be acting so strangely? But if Spike is the one who cast this spell…wait…can he even cast spells? For some reason, the image of Spike sitting pretzel-style in a circle of candles and herbs didn't come readily into her mind. Okay, well if he did…how come I'm not affected…and why isn't he attacking me? He hardly even made an attempt to stop me. The normally cocky and sardonic vampire hadn't even spat out one sarcastic comment. He practically stood there and let her pummel his face in. Maybe this isn't Spike's doing after all. But then why is he here?! Nothing made sense. And why is everyone staring at me like I'm some kind of lunatic?

Giles reached forward and placed his palm on the Slayer's forehead concernedly.

"Perhaps we should take her to the hospital…"

Through the chaos of Buffy's mind, that one word emerged and quashed all other thoughts.  Hospital equals BAD. In big capital letters. Her friends were obviously going to be of no help since they all had no idea what was going on. She was alone in this. And they are NOT going to take me to the hospital, she thought grimly.

Buffy sighed, knowing there was only one way out of this situation.

She brought her fist up into her Watcher's face and sent Xander flying into the coffee table with a kick.

"Sorry!" She apologized sheepishly and with that, sprinted through the door, leaving behind a very confused and befuddled group of actors and actresses.

***

Sarah stretched her arms out, yawning. She opened her eyes, rubbing away the remnants of sleep and gazed around blearily.

Must've fallen asleep. I wonder if Joss has finished with the living room scene yet.

The young woman was just about to get to her feet when she realized that she was in the living room.

Must've been sleeping a lot longer than I thought. No…how could they film with me sleeping on the couch? Come to think of it, I don't even remember going to sleep here in the first place.

Very strange.

Sarah got up and walked to the door, opening it hesitantly.

She gasped in surprise. Trees, houses, a road. Chill wind blowing, moon and stars in the sky. Either the set people had built one hell of a realistic set in the hour she was sleeping or she was in an actual house in an actual neighborhood.

Neither explanation seemed very realistic to her.

Shocked, she walked vacantly along the sidewalk, hoping to encounter someone who would tell her what was going on.

I must be dreaming. Or maybe someone put drugs in my food and I'm hallucinating. Or perhaps –

THUD!

Deep in thought, she hadn't even seen the dark-clad man standing in the middle of the sidewalk.

"Oh! Excuse me, I'm so sor– James? James! God you don't know how glad I am to see you!"

Spike stared at the blond girl. Looked like the Slayer, smelt like the Slayer, but definitely was not the Slayer.

Why is she smiling at me like that? What's wrong with her? And who is James?

 His eyes widened in surprise as she leaped forwards and wrapped her arms around him in a friendly hug.

"B-Buffy?" was all that the vampire managed to sputter.

She let go of him and laughed, "James, you're so silly sometimes."

Silly? The Slayer had just called him silly. Something was seriously wrong here.

"Okay, look here pet, I'm Spike, the vampire. You are Buffy, the vampire slayer. Get it?"

"Yeah okay, you can drop the act now. Wanna tell me what's going on?"

Spike looked at her incredulously. Then realization dawned upon him.

"Very clever. You almost had me fooled there Slayer. Your stupid bloody trick is not going to work on me. Now why don't you drop the act and tell me what's going on here?"

"What? What are you tal--"

There was a sudden rustling in the bushes and Spike froze. He cocked his head, motioning for the blonde to shut up.

She opened her mouth to protest just as something sprang out of the bushes and lunged for her throat.

Sarah could only describe it as something straight from a nightmare. It almost looked human. Except for the ridged forehead, yellow eyes, and razor-sharp fangs; it had to be a vampire. But they had never looked this real or horrifying before on the show.

She screamed as the demon leapt towards her.

Spike didn't know what possessed him to save the slayer. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that she seemed a bit wonky and it wouldn't be fair to just let the insane slayer die.

Game face on, he dove at the demon, pinning it to the pavement.

He glanced up at the terrified slayer. "Stake would be nice ya know?"

"Oh my god…" James is a monster. I've got to get out of here.

She ran.