Disclaimer: I own nothing, Song Lyrics belong to Queen and Sarah Mclaghlan.
Reviewers:
BAKAMAN: All in good time, all in good time. And no she was already part vampire, it just got worse because she died.
sPIKEaNDmE: Thanks. I hope this one is just as good ad the others. I'm hoping to post more often. If other junk doesn't get in the way.
Chapter 4. Summer Sucks
Buffy had been at her fathers for two weeks and she felt like she was going to explode from pure nervous energy. She hadn't been able to go out patrolling very often. Her dad was home after five and it was a lot harder to sneak out of his apartment than it was her own house.
She was also having major problems sleeping. She woke up nearly every night silently screaming and sobbing her eyes out. She'd try to cry as silently as possible until she fell back to sleep from exhaustion.
Buffy loved her father and loved spending time with him; but she wanted to go home and see everyone and kick the shit out of some vampires.
Weekends at her fathers were largely spent shopping and doing different activities, which usually added going to the movies or the beach. They were currently on thier way to the beach for a nice fun filled sunny day.
Buffy was tightly controlling herself from bouncing all over the place. She really needed to get some energy out.
Her father noticed something anyway and glanced at her.
"Honey, you look really tense. Are you allright?"
She jumped. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just have a lot of energy pent up. I want to swim the day away!" She replied with false cheer.
It seemed to satisfy her father though, and she relaxed a little and allowed herself to bounce her foot on the floor of her fathers car.
She was wearing thin. Even strangers noticed how bad she looked a lot of the time. And her sleeping problems weren't helping. She was shutting off, and she knew it.
Somehow killing the master hadn't been enough. He was still there. He was in her dreams, her thoughts. His words ran through her mind like a litany.
"If you hadn't come, I couldn't go. Think about that."
Buffys' eyes squeezed shut. And she screamed in her mind, "Shut up! SHUT UP!"
She leaned her forehead against the window and sighed. She was supposed to be having fun. Forcing her brain to give it a rest she turned to her father and started up a conversation.
Monday Morning-
"Buffy?"
Buffy jumped and sat up in bed. "Yeah?" She breathed sleepily.
"Honey, I'm really sorry about this; but I have to go away for the week. There's something going on at work, and they need me in our San Fransisco branch to figure out what's wrong."
"That's okay dad." Buffy said, trying not to yawn. "When will you be back?"
"Either late Friday night, or early Saturday morning. Are you going to be allright here by yourself? You could always stay with Miranda down the hall..."
"No dad, I'm fine here. Anyway, you won't be that far away, and I know Mirandas' number in case anything goes wrong."
Buffy liked Miranda; but she had slaying in mind,and she knew that if she stayed with her friend, that wouldn't happen.
"Okay Buffy, if you're sure. I let her mom know that you're by yourself, so she'll be checking in on you to make sure you're okay."
Buffy nodded. She stretched and got up to give her dad a hug and kiss goodbye.
When he left, Buffy trudged into the kitchen to make something to eat. She glaced at the clock and grimaced. After she ate, it was quality time with her pillows. After dark, it was quality time with the undead.
9:30 pm-
She pinned her hair up and surveyed herself in the mirror. Not bad. She needed to eat some more. She was starting to resemble a certain TV lawyer.
She smoothed the leather of her coat, rechecked her stake stash and called Mirandas' apartment.
"Hello?"
Buffy recognised Mirandas' moms' voice on the line.
Hey Mrs. Ackles, it's Buffy. I was just calling to let you know I'm okay, and I'm gonna go to bed."
"Oh hello Buffy. Allright dear. Are you sure you don't want to stay over here?"
"Yeah, Maybe I'll stay over tomorrow night. Dad got me up kinda early and I just wanna crash." She said. It wasn't exactly a lie.
"Okay, I'll let Miranda know you're sleeping so she doesn't call you. Don't forget to lock up."
"I won't forget. Thanks Mrs. Ackles. I really appreciate you looking out for me while dad's not here."
"You're welcome Buffy." She replied. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Buffy replied, and hung up the phone. She waited a few minutes and then got her keys and went out the door. She locked it and got in the elevator.
Twenty minuets later, she was prowling the streets. Packed full of energy, she was eagerly anticipating a fight.
She didn't have long to wait. She spotted a couple of vamps dragging a struggling girl into an alley.
The girl was crying and begging for her life. The vampires were laughing and playing around with her, making her more scared.
"Didn't anyone teach you not to play with your food?" Buffy quipped.
The vampires swung around as one. There were five in all. They stared at her for a moment.
"Come on now, she's not even big enough to share." Buffy said. "Me, on the other hand, I've got enough for all of you. Stakes that is."
The vampires grinned at each other.
"Come on fellas, looks like we got ourselves another treat." Said the leader of the gruesome group.
He stayed with the girl, forcing her to watch as the other four began to approach Buffy, not bothering to even assume a fighting stance. She wouldn't even be able to run away.
"You got a death wish little girl?" One of them asked.
"You know, I've died and it's not all it's cracked up to be." Buffy replied offhandedly, before whipping a stake at him. The others froze as he was dusted and Buffy took that opportunity to launch herself into the fight.
"Slayer." Muttered the leader angrily.
Within thirty seconds the rest of the vampires were dust, and the leader had released the girl and was running away. He jerked spasmodically as a stake pierced his heart from behind.
"Run home and don't stop." Buffy told the frightned girl.
The girl nodded fearfully, tears running down her cheeks. "Thank you." She said shakily.
"Hurry and go." Buffy told her. There's bound to be more. Always is."
The girl squeaked in fear and took off.
Buffy was on an adrenaline high. She'd missed this so much. She wished her dad hadn't told Mirandas' mom he'd gone away. She'd have to stay over there at least one night and miss out on slayage.
She was thinking this bitterly to herself when she saw a big slimy demon go into a nightclub. She sighed. Back to work, She ran after it, hoping there'd be no casualties.
When she entered the place, however, she recieved a huge shock. It was entirely peaceful. There was an enormous demon with tufts of purple hair sticking out of it's pointy dark blue ears, standing on stage....singing karaoke?
The slimey green one she'd seen was sitting on a barstool oozing away and chatting with a vampire.
There were even humans there! She was looking around, befuddled, when someone spoke up behind her.
"Can I help you, sweettart?"
Buffy turned around to see a bright green demon with glaringly red eyes, dressed in a nice suit, and holding a glass of alchohol.
"Is this your place?" She asked warily.
"Sure is, sweet cheeks. Did you come to sing for me?"
"Um no. I was wondering how the hell you get everyone to get along in here though."
"What's your name honey?"
"Buffy."
The demon stuck out his hand. "I'm Lorne. They shook hands. "And this is Caritas." He added waving his hand around. (I'm sorry if I didn't spell that right. I'm too lazy to look it up.) "I have a strict no violence rule. It's a spell actually. Sanctuary. The kiddies just come in here to sing and get drunk."
"Lucky for them." Buffy sing-songed.
Lornes eyes flared red. "You're the slayer!" He said in a whisper.
Buffy was startled. "How'd you..?"
"I'm an empath." He replied. "See contrary to common belief, there are some peaceful demons, and I'm one of them. People come to me and sing and I read them."
"Like a fortune teller?"
Lorne grimaced. "Kind of; but no cards, no crystals, no palms, just songs."
"Oh." Buffy nodded.
"There's something else about you. Would you consider singing for me?"
"In front of people? Oh no!"
"No, we can go to my office if you want to. Nobody to hear but me. C'mon, you can't be as bad as that guy!" He said, pointing to the stage, where a tanked vampire had taken over the mic, and was butchering Queens' "We Are the Champions."
Buffy giggled as the vamp hiccoughed and slurred "We are the shampionsch!"
"Okay; but just you!"
"Deal, sugar. Follow me."
Buffy followed the sweet tempered green demon up some stairs and through his office door.
"Anything to drink?" He asked.
Buffy shook her head. "What should I sing?"
Lorne shrugged. "Pick something you like. It doesn't matter if you can sing or not, I'll still be able to read you."
Wondering whether she should be offended or not, Buffy tried to think of a song.
Suddenly she latched on one and began to sing.
"Make me a witness
take me out of darkness
out if doubt
I wont wiegh you down
with good intention
Wont make fire out of clay
Or other inventions
WIll we burn in heaven
like we do down here
Will the change come while we're waiting
Everyone is waiting
And when we're done soul searching
As we carried the wieght
and died for the cause
is misery made beautiful
right before our eyes
will mercy be revealed
or blind us where we stand
will we burn in heaven
like we do down here
will the change come while we're waiting
everyone is waiting"
Lorne looked fascinated as Buffy finished singing.
After a moment or two, she began to feel nervous at his silence, and she began wiggling in her seat. "Well?" She asked.
He looked at her blankly for a second.
"Oh no! I broke him!" Buffy said sarcastically.
Her joke snapped him out of his trance.
"Sorry muffin. I had a little bit to process there. Nice singing by the way."
"Thanks." Buffy blushed.
"Darlin' I don't quite know how to ask you this without being seriously in danger; but..."
"What?" Buffy asked apprehensively.
"Did you know that you're part vampire?"
Buffy stared at him for a moment, before she got mad. "Oh very funny!" She snapped. "What is this just some big joke on me?"
"No! No! Of course not!" Lorne said. "Sorry, I wasn't much for the tact was I?"
He looked so chagrined that she was sorry for snapping at him. "You have got to be kidding." She insisted. "I'm alive! I'm breathing! I have a reflection, and a sense of style!"
Lorne chuckled at the last part. "All that don't mean diddly, honeybun. Part of the demon is inside of you. And I'm pretty sure nothing is going to make it come out. Whoever did this to you bonded the demon so tightly to you that it's overlapping your soul like a second skin.. so to speak."
"A..are you sure?" She remembered how he could tell she was the slayer from her singing three words. He didn't seem like the type to lie for a thrll.
Lorne nodded. "Afraid so, pumpkin."
Buffy smirked. "Will you pick a pet name and stick to it?"
Lorne laughed. "Pumpkin it is."
Buffy glanced at her watch. She grimaced. She'd spent way too much time here already. " I gotta go. I'll come back again this week?"
Lorne nodded. "Looking forward to it, pumpkin. Just remember to not kill my clients in here."
"I don't think I could. If I'm part vampire, the spell would work on me."
"You're right." Lorne said thoughtfully. I'd suggest we try it out; but I know the effects of it are very painful. Not from first hand experience of course; but I've seen many an unconsious demon dragged from here because of it."
"Well, I gotta get home." Buffy said, moving to the door. I'll see you again this week."
"Allright pumpkin. Be careful on the way home."
"Aye aye captain." She replied, getting another laugh out of Lorne.
"Funny girl." He muttered before going out to bear witness to the destruction of some more music.
AN: Okay guys, hit me! I need your opinions on this. The next chapter will be the second half of her stay in LA. Don't worry, Spike will show up in all his peroxide yumminess soon. If anyone is wondering, yes Angel is still going to lose his soul. I needed a way to get him out and that seems best, because I don't want to kill him, though he is a wanker.