~~~Chapter 5 ~~~

Ric hadn't been lying. It wasn't hour after the smug little bastard left when reports of dead bodies started to pile up. The station was in an uproar. No one knew what was going on. Scott could see the panic in men's eyes. Heard the whispers when no one thought he could hear.

Bite marks. Blood drained.

Taggart looked relieved when Scotty had suggested gang related deaths. Didn't second guess him like usual. Hadn't even tried tying the deaths to the mob. Like good worker bees each officer nodded their head and went off to file their reports.

He'd made a huge mistake. Not that he'd utter those words out loud for anyone else to hear. His first visit to the morgue confirmed that he'd left the little league fields behind and fallen on his face in the majors. When it came down to it, he was all talk, flash and not an ounce of substance. He knew it, most of the men at the PCPD knew it. And soon all the idiot voters of PC were going to know it. He couldn't put the press off forever, he was going to be forced to give a press release.

He could see it now. Being asked what precautions he'd suggest to the residents. Carry sharp pointy sticks. Wear a cross around your neck. And don't forget the Holy water. He'd be in a straightjacket before the next reporter could ask a question.

Crap.

Tossing his third cup of coffee into the trash, Scott cursed darkly under his breath as he slammed out of his office. Everyone stopped what they were doing. Looking up at him with panic filled eyes. "How many?"

"Four." Mac muttered.

"Well that's not too bad." Trying to use a cheerful voice, he ignored the glares he received. "What? It could be worse." The phone on Mac's desk started ringing. Mac hesitated for a moment before answering it. His shoulders slumped, as he ran a hand over his face.

"There was another one found down on Crawford."

Mac gave Scotty a look of disgust before stalking away.

Crap.

~~~*~~~

Turning the corner Buffy put out her hand and stopped Tess. Only ten feet away was a vampire having a midnight snack of the human variety.

"Well there's a familiar sight." Tess muttered, her eyes automatically looking around for a weapon.

"I don't get it. We didn't hear about any deamony activity here." Reaching inside her jacket, Buffy gulped when her hands came up empty. "Okay here's the plan."

"Fight. Stake. Kill. That hasn't changed has it?" Still looking, she gave an exasperated sigh. "Does this town not believe in wood?"

"We don't have time." Without any hesitation, Buffy hurried forward. "Hey you. Yeah you with the bad dental plan. Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?"

Tess felt her lips twist, a feeling of normalcy spread through her. No matter what changed, at least slaying would stay the same.

It was the last thought that went through her mind before something slammed across her back. The pain almost had her on her knees. But unfortunately for her attacker the pain didn't keep her down long. Spinning in her crouched position, she swiped the vampires feet out from under him. Sending him to the ground and giving her enough time to spring to her feet.

"Hey Buffy?"

Her opponent was quick to recover.

"Yeah?"

Tess's fist connected with the vampire's face in a forceful upper cut.

"What about that stake issue?" Her sidekick was weak, so much so she could hear Giles's voice in the back of her head scolding her on her lack of concentration. But what could be expected when you were wearing a skirt that not even a librarian would get caught dead in?

"Thinking about it."

Pain blinded her for a moment as a foot planted itself into her abdomen.

"Hey watch it." Bent over Tess took a moment to catch her breath, taking a step back to avoid another blow. "That actually hurt!"

"Just wait little girl. Before I kill you I will show you what pain really is."

"Funny. That's what they all say right before they all became a big ole pile of dust on the ground." Aiming her kick at his sternum, Tess growled in frustration when the snug skirt refused to oblige. Looking down in disgust at the crimson material, she bent over quickly gripped the material and tore the skirt up the side. "Much better."

"Tess heads up." Buffy called out before her head snapped back from a lucky shot.

Seeing that her opponent had a trashcan aimed at her head, Tess tucked into a ball and rolled to the right. The sound of metal crashing onto the pavement echoed in the dark alley. "Oh now I'm gonna have to kick your ass."

Her legs now free, she kicked with enough force to knock the vampire back several feet. Without skipping a beat, she spun on her right foot, connecting her left one to the underside of the vampire's chin. He stumbled back into pile of trash.

With an enraged howl the vampire lunged to his feet. But before he could make his move he burst into a ball of dust.

"What the?" Tess blinked.

"Are you okay?" Angel's concerned voice startled her for a moment.

"Hey I was on a roll. Why'd you do that?"

Angel's concerned expression faded into an amused smirk. With a disbelieving shake of his head, he turned his attention to where Buffy was fighting. "Buffy!"

Her head snapped toward their direction and Angel tossed her his stake. With a clean jab her opponent was a pile at her feet.

"Thanks." Pushing her fly away hair out of her face, Buffy ran her hands down her pant legs. Letting out a long breath, she approached the startled female crouched in the shadows. "Are you okay?"

"M-My dog?" The female's eyes were glazed over in shock. "I can't find my dog."

Shaking her head, Buffy offered the woman a small smile. "Don't worry. I'm sure your dog is somewhere around here."

The woman let out a shaky breath. "W-What was that?"

Buffy paused. "Just your random mugger."

"I saw its face." The woman struggled to her feet. Her eyes growing bigger by the minute. "He didn't look normal."

Angel put his hand on the small of Tess's back and urged her forward. "Probably just the shadows playing tricks with your eyes."

The woman was growing agitated. "It bit me." As if to clarify her point, she brought a hand to her neck. Pulling it back she stared down at the blood. Turning to Angel, her body started to tremble. "Is that my blood?"

Tess knelt down next to Buffy. "You're gonna be fine. How about we walk you home?"

The confusion melted from the woman's face. Her eyes turned cold as she stared at Tess. "Why? So you can tell Jason that you saved me? When are you going to give up? Jason's with me now Elizabeth."

"Excuse me?" Blinking, Tess watched as the female struggled to her feet.

"Oh is this where you act all innocent. Batting your lashes and playing dumb? Well I saw you. You're not as helpless as you've led everyone to believe."

"Mrs. Quartermaine?" The sound of footsteps stopped the conversation. A large man joined the young woman. "I thought Jason told you not to go out without a guard. Miss Webber? What happened?"

Angel nudged Tess from behind. Almost causing her to stumble forward. Sending him a look over her shoulder she read the look in his eyes and turned toward the man. "There was a mugger."

"I'm telling you it wasn't a mugger. Johnny it bit me." Baring her neck for him to see, Buffy groaned from behind.

"Listen we were just offering to walk your friend here home. But since you're here..." Angel grasped onto Tess and Buffy's hands and started to drag them away. They needed to get back to the others and didn't have time for hysterics.

"Wait..." The man jogged the few feet to them. "Miss Webber, maybe you should come with us."

Tess gritted her teeth in frustration. She hated not knowing what was going on. Being called someone else's name. Expected to know people she'd never seen before now. Lindsey had explained she'd become someone else for awhile. But she'd been under the assumption that when it was all over she'd remember. "Why?"

"Mr Corinthos and Morgan might have a few questions." The man fidgeted.

"You know what? I think I'll pass." Turning away, Tess looked at her two friends. "Will someone tell me what in the hell is going on?"

"I'd love to." Angel whispered back. "As soon as I know I'll tell you."