Dawn rolled her eyes. "They've decided that the perpatrators escaped after some equipment malfunctioned in Tara's room, causing 'a bright flash of light'. Oh yeah, this was after they killed the nurse by stabbing her in the neck with two hypodermic needles. Score another one for the Sunnydale PD."

Willow smiled weakly. She was twisting the hem of her skirt, unconsciously.

"Hey, you saved all three of us. Even if you did do that thing that you're not supposed to be doing anymore. But I'm sure it's ok, just this once, right?"

Willow didn't answer. Dawn continued:

"How's Tara?"

Wilow brightened. "She's gonna be fine. They didn't hurt her. She's even sort of awake, off and on. I don't think she really remembers what happened yet."

One of the police detectives came over.

"I think we're done with you young ladies for now. We'll call you if anything comes up... we've got your number on file." He gave them a meaningful look. "You can both go now."

Willow stood up. "I'm staying here, with Tara." She pulled her cel phone out of her bag and handed it to Dawn. "Dawny, see if you can get Buffy to come and get you."

Dawn rolled her eyes again. "I can find my way home from here."

"Dawn... would you rather I had the policeman drive you home?"

"Ok, ok.... geeeez!" Dawn took the phone and stepped away.

Willow paced back and forth, eyes darting around. She'd used magic again, without even thinking. She'd done it to save Tara, but, it was so easy, so natural. She could still feel the energy of it coursing through her body... and it felt good. How could something bad feel so good? Dawn interrupted her reverie.

"Sophie says she's already left the Doublemeat, and she's not home."

Willow frowned. "Riley must have picked her up. I really hate to ruin another one of their dates..." Dawn perked up. "...But we've got to. I've got the numbers he left with Buffy here, give me the phone, let's see if we can find her."

Dawn's face fell, but she handed Willow the phone..

"That's strange, the number's out of order. I'll try the pager." She punched it in.

*Brrrrrip* *Brrrrrip* *Brrrrip*

Dawn's eyes widened.

"That can't be. I'll try the number again."

*Brrrrrip* *Brrrrrip* *Brrrrip*

The sound was coming from Willow's bag.

---------------------

"Ok. Now you can look." Riley pulled his hands away from Buffy's eyes.

"Oh.... wow. Just.... when did you have time to do all this?" A wide smile spread across her face as she took in the tablecloth spread over the ground on a small hilltop overlooking Sunnydale. In the center of the cloth, surrounded by flowers, was a bottle of wine in an ice bucket, and a picnic basket. Candles flickered on top of small rocks strategically arranged around the scene.

"Do you like it?"

"How did you know this place was up here, anyways? I've lived in Sunnydale longer than you have, and I've never seen it."

"Found it once on patrol. Do you like it?"

"It's gorgeous. I love it."

"Good." Riley stepped over the candles, uncorked the wine bottle, poured two glasses, and held one out to Buffy. "Sit."

"Did they teach you this in the army?" She settled in on the cloth next to him and took a sip from her glass.

Riley chuckled. "You'd be amazed the things you pick up in the jungles of South America. I wanted to make something special for you tonight. To make up for... things."

"You sure succeeded Agent Finn. Wow. This is more special than I know what to do with. No demon ooze or ketchup squirted all over the place...."

He took her hand. "You're special. You deserve special. More special than this, all the time."

"Riley, I...."

"It's not too much is it? Too soon? I just got back and all...." He looked worried.

"No. It's perfect."

He smiled. "Good." He reached into the basket and pulled out some white cardboard takeout containers. "One thing I didn't learn in the jungle is how to cook worth a damn. But I do remember how to order from Nori's. Sushi?"

---------------------

"There's got to be some mistake. As much as I'd like to think Riley is of the bad, why would he hurt Tara? It doesn't make any sense."

Willow didn't answer. Dawn kept on, almost babbling.

"I mean, he barely even knew her. Unless it's some Initiative thing, but there is no Initiative anymore, right? And even if there was, why Tara and not you? I mean, because you're way more powerful, that's what I mean."

"Open." Willow raised her hand, and the double glass doors at the hospital entrance flew apart.

"There's just got to be some kind of an answer, right?"

Even though her legs were much longer, Dawn had to scurry to keep up with Willow. The witch's feet were barely touching the ground, and the air crackled in her wake. Dawn took a few running steps and touched Willow's sleeve.

"Right?"

Willow stopped and looked at Dawn with black eyes that danced with red sparks. "Right. He's going to give me an answer."

All the dogs within a three block radius of the hospital threw their heads back and howled as the air pressure built. Like ripples, it spread outward, and soon every dog in Sunnydale was howling and barking in chorus.

---------------------

"What was that?"

"It's just the coyotes." Riley brushed his fingers along the underside of Buffy's wrist, tracing the lacy network of veins just below the skin.

"Are you sure? It's so loud. Maybe I should..."

"Shhhh." He lifted her wrist to his lips and kissed it. "I'm sure." He brushed the hair away from the side of her face and let his fingers trail down over her earlobe and down the side of her neck.

"Well, if you're sure." She smiled, reached up to catch his hand with her own, and rubbed her cheek against it.

He moaned softly. "God, I have missed you."

"Riley..."

"What?"

"Kiss me."

---------------------

The Sunnydale Public Library branch near the hospital was long closed for the night, not that it bothered Willow, or presented any obstacle. The doors peeled open as easily as the ones at the hospital, and another wave of her hand took care of the alarm system that triggered.

"Wh..what are we doing here?"

"Finding him." Willow swept over to the bank of public computers and placed her hand against one of the darkened monitors. "Reveal." It flared to life, rows and columns of text and numbers flashing by as she accessed the records of every hotel and motel in Sunnydale simultaneously.... to no avail. Willow made an inarticulate cry of rage and pushed away from the computer, sending it flying into the wall where it exploded in a shower of sparks. She spun around and swept out of the library, with Dawn running after her.

---------------------

Riley pushed the straps of Buffy's blouse off her shoulders and leaned in, kissing across her neck and collarbones, bending her backwards onto the tablecloth.

She sighed. "Mmm. You're so cold."

"Warm me up, then."

---------------------

Dawn was really getting frightened. "M...maybe I should go find Buffy. Or Spike." She started to turn away, but felt herself being dragged along behind Willow.

"She's with him. And it's not safe for you alone. But maybe we will go get Spike..."

She abruptly turned and headed towards the cemetary, picking up speed and pulling a helpless Dawn along behind her.

---------------------

Buffy's hands slid down Riley's bare chest as his roamed over her hips. Their discarded clothes lay scattered among the cardboard takeout containers and empty wine bottle. Her lips followed her hands and Riley moaned, digging his fingers into the flesh of her hips as he flipped her over onto her back and buried his face in her neck. She cried out and hooked one bare leg around his waist.

---------------------

Finding Spike's crypt completely empty of all life and unlife, Willow again swept down the streets, with a sobbing Dawn in tow. They came to an intersection close to the center of town, and stopped, hovering about three feet above the concrete surface. Willow opened her bag and removed the black plastic pager. Chanting softly, she held it in her fist, slowly raising her arm until it was straight out in front of her. She opened her fingers.

"Locate."

The pager floated up and forwards, surrounded by a glowing halo.

---------------------

Riley thrust himself against Buffy. She pulled him in with both her legs locked around his hips and they cried out together. He held himself rigid for a moment, then relaxed, with his face against her shoulder. She slowly let her legs slide down, and stroked the back of his head. He licked the side of her neck and nuzzled there.

---------------------

The pager floated up and forwards, glowing brighter, then it flamed out with a crackling sound and fell to the street, leaving a wispy trail of smoke behind. Willow threw her head back and screamed. The pavement around them buckled and scorched, and a ball of fire shot up into the air.

---------------------

"What the..."

Both of their heads snapped around. The light from the fireball over Sunnydale was bright enough even that far away to illuminate the picnic site with an angry orange glow.

"THAT was not coyotes." Buffy sprang to her feet, grabbing her clothes and hastily pulling them on. "I've got to go see what caused it."

Riley muttered under his breath.

Buffy was already heading down the cliffs, buttoning her jeans as she went. She turned her head to look at him. "What?"

"I said, yeah, go."

She was already yards away, and didn't see his eyes flickering gold.

"I'll be right behind you."