Everyone's glance was aimed at a book. Giles, Anya, Willow and Tara were seated at the table. Xander was sitting on the counter, and occasionally exchanged annoyed glances and rolling eyes with Willow. Dawn was sitting on the floor by the shelf she woke up next to. Buffy and Spike were sitting on the second floor.
Buffy reached the last page. "Nothing," she proclaimed in the room of silence. She crawled to the edge of the stairs and tossed it to Willow. Willow placed it on the pile of twenty other books that gave them nothing and tossed Buffy another one.
"Nothing," Dawn said. She added it to the pile and took another one.
"Well this is going well," Xander observed. "We have thirty books that tell us nothing and two hundred to go. Were you a librarian in another life?" Xander asked Giles.
"These books are very informative about spells and, demons," Giles retorted.
"And something called the Slayer," Xander said. "Some girl chosen to fight demons and vampires until she dies, which apparently doesn't take long. And has to cut herself off from the world and only take orders."
"Shitty deal," Buffy commented. She continued flipping through the book.
"But hey, she gets super human strength and kick ass abilities. But," Xander shut the book, "this doesn't help us." He added it to the pile. "Yet another loss." He grabbed the next book in the pile of unreads.
Buffy's face grew closer and closer to the book she was reading. "You look a little interested in that one pet. Are there pictures?"
"Huh? No. I just… I think this is a diary or something. They're talking about a Slayer called Nikki Wood who was killed on a subway by a vampire named Spike. Well, they assume. He'd been following her around for awhile."
"Too bad," Spike said sincerely.
She turned the page. It read: Rupert Giles's Watcher Diaries. Buffy's mouth opened. She looked down at the one who said his name was Rupert Giles. He was holding Anya's hand as he looked through his book. She looked back and turned the page. I met the Slayer, Buffy, today. Her previous watcher was Merrick when she was in LA, but he sadly was killed. At first she was quite bewildered when I revealed the book on demons but later came to me about the vampire victim. Willow and Xander somehow found out she's the Slayer. I hope this doesn't get in the way of her duties.
"Something wrong Joan?" Spike asked, noticing her bewildered look.
Her eyes kept rereading the words. It was setting off a memory. She received bits and pieces but they went away once she stopped reading. "This sounds so familiar."
Spike pushed himself next to her. He read the book over her shoulder. "Buffy?"
"Yeah," she answered.
Spike's head moved back in surprise. "What?"
"I- I don't know. I don't know why I just said that."
Spike continued reading. "Willow and Xander." Spike looked down on the quiet people. "Isn't Willow the red head?" Spike pointed.
"Yeah."
"Who's Xander?"
"I don't know."
"Maybe this was just written by someone in an insane asylum." Buffy bit her lip and turned back a page. "Rupert Giles's Watcher Diary," he read, not caring. Then he realized what he just said and snatched the book to read it closer. Yup, still said Rupert Giles. "What the- Hey Dad?" Spike yelled. He stood up and walked down the stairs.
"Yes Randy?" Giles removed his hand from Anya's and gave his full attention to Spike.
"What is this?" Spike handed him the book.
Giles read in disbelief. He turned the page and continued reading. "I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"No. No idea. I don't know who Buffy, Willow or Xander are."
"I'm Willow," she said.
"Do you remember a Buffy or a Xander?"
Willow gave it a minute. Her mind was a complete blank until the moment when she woke up by Xander. "No."
"There can't be more than one of these people. Those names are too weird," Spike said.
"Okay Randy," Willow commented.
"That's his fault," Spike defended, pointing to Giles.
"Randy's right. Maybe figuring out this will help us," Giles stated.
"Great, more reading," Anya remarked.
"Well, my name's Alexander. Maybe I'm Xander," he said uncertain.
"That makes sense," Giles said. "But then who's Buffy?" Everyone looked at each other and then turned their gaze to Buffy.
She knew it. She had this immense power and fighting ability, there just had to be a depressing explanation for it. "Me?"
"It fits. It says this girl is a Slayer, and Alex, uh, Xander here, informed us that she was quite strong and killed vampires," Giles stated feebly.
"At least now you know your name," Dawn said. And it isn't really Joan.
"But I'm also someone cut off from the world who only takes orders."
"I have a suggestion. Why don't you read this, and figure out more about yourself, while we continue with our research?" Giles offered.
Buffy walked down the steps and took the book slowly. She looked at it for a minute. "I'm not sure I want to know."
"But it might help pet," Spike said, placing his hand on her shoulder.
Buffy smiled and put her hand over his. "Okay. But, I would rather read this alone. Just incase I have a sudden urge to throw it or… punch something."