Chapter 3: "What's wrong with me?"

"Hey Dawn!" Buffy greeted her sister as she walked in the door.

"Hey Buffy." Dawn set her backpack down and then saw Faith sitting in the living room. "Faith's here?"

"Yeah. She was in town." Buffy replied.

"How've you been?" Dawn asked Faith.

"Five by five." Faith shrugged. "How was school? Learn anything interesting?" there was obvious sarcasm in her voice.

Dawn responded anyway. "Well there's a new girl in my English class. She's really cool. Buffy, Faith, you guys need to meet her."

"Well I suppose you could invite her over sometime. What's her name?" Buffy asked.

"Emma. She's really cool. Willow would like her- she uses magic!" Dawn smiled happily.

"Dawn. That girl's bad news- she's a-." Buffy started to say.

"Vampire. I know. But she's also-."

"The slayer?" Faith asked. "Yeah. I met her too."

"Wait a second- why do you guys know her?" Dawn wondered.

"Well, I fought her while I was on patrol last night. She's not who she says she is." Buffy said.

"Yes she is!" Faith and Dawn snapped. Then, Faith looked at Dawn, Dawn looked at Faith.

"Wait, you believe me?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah. I talked with her while I was on patrol last night. Sweet kid, just looking for her parents."

"She's looking for vampires then. She is bad." Buffy replied.

"But she's the slayer- she's good!" Dawn replied.

"If she's good, she'll kill them." Buffy replied.

"Buffy, why are you being so cold about this?" Dawn asked.

"That's a good question." Faith added.

"Because she's lying!" replied Buffy. "It's impossible for a vampire to be the slayer!"

"No it isn't." Emma suddenly appeared in the living room. "Not in the future."

"Lock her in the basement." Buffy demanded.

"What's wrong with me?" asked Emma, with a sad tone.

"Nothing kid. Buffy just doesn't understand yet." Faith replied.

"Well we need to make her understand." Emma said.

"We will. Emma, it's going to be all right." Dawn assured.

"Where's Spike? He'll guard her." Buffy looked around the house for Spike. Finding him, she brought him over to where Emma stood, helpless.

"Why don't you use magic?" Faith whispered.

"It would get us in trouble!" Emma replied, acting shocked.

"Spike, take her in the basement!" Buffy replied. "I need time to figure out what I'm going to do."

"Let's go, love." Spike lead Emma to the basement.