A/N: The main Disclaimer & A/N can be referenced in the first chapter. Thank you to Scifi Gate for the Stargate SG-1 episode transcripts.

Chapter 2: The Aid Of A Friend

The sun drifted below the horizon long before the bus, from Sunnydale, reached its destination. It lurched to a halt in the Las Vegas Bus Terminal as the sun fell over the plains, only for the city to light up the dark sky with bright lights. Within the commercial vehicle, a slumbering blonde was tapped on the shoulder by another passenger. "We're here," he stated.

"Thanks," Buffy sleepily replied and grabbed her bag by the handles before departing the bus. While on the motor vehicle, nightmares had haunted her dreams. At first, she was nearly unconscious from her body having been pushed past its limits. Once her system had at least rested, they came. The dreams came. Angel blamed her for Jenny's death. Giles wouldn't even looking at her. Willow yelled at Buffy for not being her friend. Oz didn't say a word, he just stared past her. Next came the replays of her battle with Angelus and the killing of Angel. Xander cheered when she sliced through Angel with her blade. Her father and mother's lectures on disgracing the family and disowning her drove Buffy to cationic levels. Then, her body had gone into a deep sleep, one in which dreams could not penetrate. Needless to say, she was a mess.

Buffy shook her head to try to forget and followed a crowd out of the bus terminal. The walk helped. It aided her in clearing the dreams out of her mind, as she had to concentrate to avoid bumping into other people. But once the habit of walking took over, she sunk back into her thoughts. Memories flared up again. Buffy switched her bag to her other hand and attempted to empty her head once more. She wanted to forget. She needed to forget.

As the blonde continued down the sidewalk, it became more congested. She was nearing a tourist district and couldn't find it in herself to enjoy any of the sights. While she walked along, Buffy took a moment to study those around her. People seemed to have no fear of what thrived in the night. For they were everywhere. People walked past in huge clumps, unaware of the danger. 'Stupid, ignorant Happy Meals on legs,' she grumbled and quoted stupid Spike. Buffy followed the crowd past a 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign. 'Stupid 'Come on in and Enjoy the Buffet' signs.' She wadded through the crowds until a pay phone came into sight. Buffy ducked behind a person and reached a booth. She closed the folding door behind her as she sat down her bag. Taking a few quarters out of her coat pocket, Buffy paid for some minutes and dialed the phone number she had memorized. Seconds ticked by until the person, who over the previous year had become a close friend and technically a brother, answered her call.

"Finn," a male voice sounded through the receiver.

Buffy smiled at the sound of his voice and replied, "Ri'?"

"Buffy? How . . . Why are you calling from a Nevada area code?"

"I-I came to visit you." Outside, a person tapped on the plastic glass door. "Someone needs to use the phone."

She could practically hear Riley roll his eyes. "Okay. I'm not in town right now. Do you have money for a hotel."

"Yeah."

"Then, give me a call when you get a hotel room and something to eat. Does this have anything to do with Angel?" Silence. He exhaled as tears slowly slid down her face. "Buffy, go get a hotel room, something to eat, and call me back. Can you do that?"

"Uh Huh. I'll…" The person knocked on the door again. "I have to go." Buffy hung up the pay phone and picked up her bag. She opened the door and walked past the creature. "All your's."

"Nope, don't need it," the being commented and Buffy whirled around. "Though you could use a mirror or somethin'. Your face is all splotchy and . . ."

"Whistler," she growled.

"Hey, kid." The balance demon nervously straightened his bowler's hat as rain started to pour.

Buffy tossed her bag to the ground and advanced on the demon. "So what? Did the Powers That Be send you to tell me that I failed in some way? Or to congratulate me on killing the one I love? Well, the Council got its wish. I'm alone."

"You had one more thing to lose. And you still do." He backed into the side of a building.

"One more thing? You mean my toothbrush? Sorry, haven't lost that yet. Try again. Why are you here?"

"Kid, I came to check on you. Yer' Watcher was worried."

Buffy's right fist connected with the side of his face. "Don't you talk about Giles. He's fought against evil. What have you ever done? Stand by and make cryptic messages. Oh, wait. You did do something. You took out Spike's chip and then, his hoe murdered Kendra!" She punched him again. "You couldn't have given . . ." Buffy's eyes dropped to the ground for a moment. A second later, her burning eyes glared into his once again. "A warning label, 'Don't fall for me. You'll ruin your life'." Her left fist split his lip.

"Sheesh, Slayer. I'm not a punching bag, already." She raised her fists again and he put his hands up in defense.

"Don't call me that." Buffy lowered her fists. "I quit. Go find someone else to jump through your hoops."

"R-right, Slayer." She raised an eyebrow and walked back to pick up her bag. "Hey, kid!" Whistler tossed a key card at her. Buffy caught it out of the air and looked back at him. " Get some rest."

She grabbed her bag by the handles. "Thanks," she whispered as she walked away.

"You're going to need it," he stated and disappeared.

Raindrops fell from above. Suddenly, umbrellas clogged the walkways. As she walked, Buffy tried to duck underneath the umbrellas to avoid getting completely soaked. But it was to no avail. She paused for a moment and looked into a store window. Reflected was a drowned blonde with tearing eyes. Buffy looked away as the rain poured even harder. She pulled up her hood over her head and studied the key card. It was from 'The Sleepy Hotel' for Room 66. Buffy peered up at the signs along the road. The Sleepy Hotel was only two blocks away. She shifted her bag's handles onto her shoulder and began to wade through the crowds. Just next to the hotel was a small convenience store. Realizing she hadn't eaten since the night before, Buffy purchased a sandwich, two sodas, and a muffin. She stopped under the overhang and nearly swallowed her sandwich whole. As Buffy drank from one of the bottles of soda, she spotted another pay phone. She slipped the other bottle into her bag and wadded through until she reached the phone. Water seeped into her sneakers as she paid for a call and dialed the number. Buffy shivered and waited.

"Finn," Riley answered his cell phone with a professional voice.

Buffy shivered once more. "Hey, Ri'."

"Buffy, I can barely hear you."

"It's . . umm . . really rainy here. Do you have pen and paper?"

She listened to him open and close drawers for a minute. "Ready."

"The Sleepy Hotel." Her teeth chattered.

"'Kay."

"Room 66." Thunder clapped overhead. She shuttered as the rain pounded harder.

"Buffy? I'm losing you?" Their connection faded in and out. "Report your situation." Riley's military training kicked in. The connection faded out again. "I repeat. Report your situation."

"Outside in a thunderstorm, sir."

"Elizabeth Anne Summers."

Lightening struck something in the distance and the thunder rolled overhead. "Ri', I'm calling you from a stupid pay phone in a stupid gambling city 'cause it costs too stupid much to call from my stupid room, which was given to me by a stupid balance demon. I really don't need to be yelled at right now, Riley!" Tears formed in her eyes.

"Buffy, I'm sorry."

She didn't respond as the rain mixed with the tears running down her face.

"Please, Buf'. Answer me."

"Ri', I don't know what to do." A sob came from her throat. "I . . ."

"Buffy, I want you to hang up the phone and go to your room. Can you do that?" He paused, but received no response. "I can call in a team and be on a plane within the hour."

This pulled her out of a daze. "No. You have a mission to do, right?"

"Bu . . ."

"Right?"

"Yes, but . . ."

"No buts. You finish your mission. Save the damsels and make it back in one living, breathing piece." Her authoritative voice wavered. "Ri', don't die on me."

"I won't, Buf'. You get inside. Take care."

"You too," she replied and the connection went out. Another tear slid down her face. Buffy hung up the phone.

She pulled her hood farther down over her head and waded back through the crowds. Buffy reached The Sleepy Hotel as the sky lit up again. She followed the room number signs and found her room on the second floor. Buffy slid in her key card and the door swung open. She stepped inside before closing the door. Her exhausted mind only registered the comfy bed before her. Everything else just didn't seem to be important. She tossed her things onto one of the chairs and collapsed on the bad. Buffy watched the light show on the ceiling as the storm ragged outside before falling asleep.

Their fight moved to the atrium. Buffy hit the ground and scrambled to her feet as Angelus strode toward her. She thrusted, he parried. Buffy spin around and swung at him with her sword, but he blocked her. Her lance bounced off his and fell with the blade on the low wall of a planting bed. Angelus stomped on the blade before she could raise it again and knocked it from her grip. He spun and elbowed her in the face, which knocked her back into a stone table. It collapsed and fell with her. Buffy backed up against the wall as Angelus came slowly forward. She was unarmed, but he still held his sabre. Buffy leaned further back against the wall to get away from him. He played with his sword and pointed it at her. Buffy looked up at him, frightened.

"Now that's everything, huh? No weapons . . . No friends . . . No hope," Angelus toyed with her as she closed her eyes. Buffy readied herself for whatever came at her. "Take all that away . . . and what's left?" He drew his sword back and thrusted it directly at her face.

"Me," Buffy shouted into the darkness. Thunder clapped as she breathed heavily. Her hands were as they had been at that moment in time, before her face holding the blade between them. Buffy's nearly dried clothes were drenched in sweat.

She turned on her bed to see all the pillows nearly torn in half. Buffy got off the bed and went over to where she'd tossed her bag. She unzipped it and pulled out some pajamas. Buffy slipped off her sneakers. Then, she headed into the attached bathroom and changed. Once re-clothed, she hung the drenched clothes along the shower curtain rod. The blonde peered into the mirror to see a wet red face. She turned one of the knobs for hot water and splashed some on her tear-strewn face. As she opened the box for a bar of soap, Buffy looked back into the mirror. Voices flooded her ears.

"It's because you didn't have a strong father figure, isn't it?"

"It's just fate, Mom. I'm the Slayer. Accept it."

"We should call the police."

"No. We're not calling the police."

"Well, now that we know that you're innocent, it's . . ."

"What? You though I was guilty? Jeez, feelin' the love in this room!"

"No, I didn't think that. It's just . . . now we have proof."

"We have my word, Mom. Not proof."

"Look, I'm sure they'll understand."

"Get them involved and you'll get them killed."

"Well, you're not gonna hurt them, are you?"

"I'm a Slayer, not a postal worker. Cops can't fight demons. I have to do it."

"Do what? Buffy, what is happening?"

"Just have another drink."

"Don't you talk to me that way! You don't get to just dump something like this on me and pretend it's nothing!"

"I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't have time for this."

"No! I am tired of 'I don't have time for this' or-or 'you wouldn't understand'. I am your mother, and you will make time to explain yourself."

"I told you. I'm a Vampire Slayer."

"Well, I just don't accept that!"

"Open your eyes, Mom. What do you think has been going on for the past three years? The fights, the weird occurrences. How many times have you washed blood out of my clothes and you still haven't figured it out?"

"Well, it stops now!"

"No, it doesn't stop! It never stops! Do-do you think I chose to be like this? Do you have any idea how lonely it is, how dangerous? I would love to be upstairs watching TV or gossiping about boys or . . . God, even studying! But I have to save the world again."

"No. This is insane. Buffy, you need help."

"I'm not crazy! What I need is for you to chill. I have to go!"

"No. I am not letting you out of this house."

"You can't stop me."

"Oh yes I . . . You walk out of this house, don't even think about coming back!"

Buffy looked away from the mirror and down at her hand clutching the box and bar of soap. She opened her hand. The box was beyond repair. While the bar of soap had been crumbled into tiny useless bits. Her anger flared. Buffy threw the remains of paper box and soap into the sink. She backed up against the wall and slid down it. Sobs flooded the room as she cried.

Hours ticked by as she stayed in the crunched up position. Tears had long since stopped flowing down her cheeks. Buffy slowly stood up and turned off the water, her head hung low. She plodded out of the bathroom and pulled a blanket off the bed. Buffy wrapped it around herself. The blonde solemnly grabbed the remote, for the television, and curled up in a chair. She pressed power as she pulled the blanket even closer around herself. Buffy flicked through the channels barely paying attention. Stopping on a travel channel, she eventually slipped into a dreamless sleep.

The sun rose and clear skies allowed sunlight to fill the room, in which the blonde slumbered on. Instantly, her senses became aware of a human outside her door and she awoke. Buffy squinted her eyes as she slowly stood, her legs like jelly from being cramped for hours on end. The human knocked as her legs finally cooperated. She walked to the door and swung it open. Buffy recognized the uniform of an Army soldier, the person himself was somewhat familiar. The soldier saluted her upon sight.

"Lieutenant Gary Miller of the United States Army, ma'am," he announced as he held his salute. Buffy saluted the soldier and he lowered his arm. "I am on orders from Agent Finn to deliver this to one Anne Winters." Buffy nodded as her mind analyzed. Lt. Miller handed her a sealed box. He saluted her again, one which Buffy returned. She turned to go inside when he whispered, "Thank you for saving my brother". Before Buffy could say a word, Lt. Miller was out of sight. His words revived painful memories of the Initiative's secret projects. Buffy recalled the screams of soldiers as demons attacked. Professor Walsh's creations. Adam. Her mouth went dry as that night played before her eyes. Buffy slammed the hotel room door. Too many had died that night. Ones she could have saved. She leaned against the door. Too many had died that night. Lives she could have saved. Yet, some had survived and they still had gym class the next day. Buffy exhaled as she put that disaster in the back of her mind.

Riley's box still remained in her hands. The petite blonde set the box on the table. She fetched the remaining soda bottle out of her bag and twisted off the cap. Buffy drained half of the bottle before settling down in a chair next to the table. She pried open the cardboard box and pulled out a sheet of paper.

Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Colorado Springs, CO

Miss. Winters,

Your security clearance and references are more than we expected from a person seeking to fill the Waitress position in our café. With this considered, you have been accepted. Enclosed are your badge and a packet of necessary information. More details will be provided upon arrival.

The uniform consists of dark dress shoes, black pants, and dark blue shirt. Bared midriff is unacceptable.

We will expect you within two days of receiving this letter. A bus departs the Colorado Springs Bus Depot every six hours. Present this letter and your badge to be allowed transportation. If you are unavailable during this allotted time or wish to decline the position, contact immediately.

General Hammond

Commanding Officer of Cheyenne Mt. Complex

Buffy's surprised eyes stared at the acceptance letter. Slowly, she set it down on the table and picked a note out of the box. It said: Call Me. The blonde set this down as well and continued her exploration. Enclosed were the packet, a cell phone, and duffel. She set the phone and packet on the table before yanking out the filled duffel. She unzipped it to find clothes and a smaller bag of toiletries. Five sets of uniforms, a dark blue coat, and a pair of shoes were inside. The corners of her mouth turned into a small smile. Buffy zipped up the bag and looked back into the almost empty box. Only an envelope was left and it read: Use the cell. Finally she obliged and called the only number on the cell phone's memory.

"Sure took you long enough," Riley answered.

"How?" Buffy asked the only word her jumbled mind could think of.

"Buff'. Just open the envelope." She stared at the envelope in her hands and obeyed. Inside was a bus ticket to Sunnydale, another to Colorado Springs, and some forms of identification for Anne Winters. "You have a choice, now. One you've desired for so long." Riley paused. "This is my way of saying thank you for saving not only my life. But the lives of my team as well. You deserve this chance." Her hands started to shake as he paused once more. "You can go back to Sunnydale as the Slayer or you can start anew. It's all in your hands."

She stared down at the two bus tickets. One to her past. One to a future. Her mind went blank at the possibility. She was actually being given a chance to live. Another slayer had been activated and so, the Hellmouth was protected. She could live. Buffy balanced the cell phone on her shoulder as she held the two tickets in her sweaty palms.

"So what do you say, Buff'?"

A/N: Hope everyone likes the way this is going so far. Please review and tell me what you think. The links, which didn't/don't/will not appear in each chapter, will be available in my profile.

Rosie W: Thanks for reviewing. This is my first step into the BtVS fan fiction universe. Thank you for your advice, it helped. Yes, some of the changes in the prologue weren't needed at this moment, but I wanted to lay some groundwork for a prequel. Yes, Riley and the Initiative guys were around 20 years old and were 'acting' as upperclassman in Sunnydale High School. By this time, you've realized the Initiative had to have occurred for this idea to even take roots. For the Angel 'picking on' Spike part, I'm thinking of playing off their bantering on the show. After Angelus was released in Season 2, Angelus would make note of Spike's dependence on his wheelchair nearly every chance he got. Hence, I could picture him teasing Spike about the chip (even with a soul), but later on he'd probably show Spike where to buy blood. Thank you for reviewing! By the way, I still haven't gotten any flames to roast marshmallows. Drats, I'm hungry for a smore! 