Disclaimer: I do not own any quotes, characters, or places from the 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Stargate SG-1' series. No money being made here. Are there any scholarships for fan fiction writing?
NOTE, THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY EDITED!
WARNING: There WILL be SPOILERS for Stargate SG-1 Season 2! 'Spirits' will be the first episode used. As the chapters continue on, I will tell episode the story is at.
So, on with the fic-it-tee-fic!
Chapter 3: Letting Go
Once her conversation with Riley was terminated, Buffy put her head in her hands. A choice, to be made, still hung in the dry air. She massaged her temples with her fingers. The blonde rubbed her forehead for minutes on end before she came to at least one decision. She knew there was something she had to do afore she could make her choice. Buffy breathed in deeply. Her energy suddenly felt renewed. Quickly, she showered and changed into one of the new outfits. The clothes, Buffy had brought from Sunnydale, were damp since a hole in her bag had allowed moisture to seep in the previous night. Hence, the uniform was dry and amazingly comfortable.
As her hair dried, she emptied the waterlogged bag and put the soggy clothes into a compartment of the duffel separate from her new clothes and jacket. Buffy yanked out the last occupier of her wet bag. In her hand, appeared Mr. Gordo. She looked around the room for some possible way to dry the pink pig. A hair dryer hung on the wall in the bathroom. So Mr. Gordo became a fuzzy, but dry pink Mr. Gordo. Though it was futile to try to save her old reliable bag, still none the less she stuffed it into that same compartment and zipped the nook closed. Buffy set Mr. Gordo, the papers, and packet into the other cavity. She looked around the room to see if she was missing anything. All her belongings were now in the duffel. Buffy sought something to keep her mind busy, she collapsed the empty box and placed it next to the garbage can. She paused, but couldn't find anything else to do aside from mope. So rather than sit and ponder, Buffy slung the duffel's strap over her shoulder and grabbed her card key. Then, she left the room and turned in the card key to the hotel's front desk.
Outside the sun shone down on Las Vegas and heated the pavement. Buffy blinked her eyes as she stepped out of the darkness of the hotel lobby. She wandered down the crowded sidewalks, deep in thought. She didn't know where she was going. She only knew there was something she had to do. What was it? Heck, only her subconscious had any idea and it certainly wasn't giving any clues.
By the time she came to a halt, she was standing in the middle of a park with a small bouquet of flowers in her hands. For some reason, Buffy had purchased the bouquet, of several red roses and varied other flowers, from a street vendor. And she didn't know why.
Buffy looked around her. The park was beautiful. Trees dotted the land around a vast lake. Green grass below and blue skies overhead. A small pier went a little ways out into the water. It was peaceful. Too early for many to be within this place. She set her duffel down at the end of the pier. Buffy slowly walked out the pier and took in the view. Now, she knew what she was here to do. The petite blonde extracted one daisy from the bouquet. She was here to let go.
Buffy tossed the daisy into the lake and said, "Jesse."
She took another, threw it, and watched it fall into the water. "Dr. Gregory." A tear descended down her cheek.
One more flower fell to the lake. "Principal Flutie."
Buffy tossed a bundle of flowers. "Soldiers. Those I did not know and yet, . . . died."
She let another go. "Billy."
More tumbled down in a cluster. "Willow's fish."
Buffy held another before the flower dived down to the lake. "Jenny Calendar."
Two more fell. "Tina. Miss. Frank."
She finally held only the seven roses. Buffy paused as tears rolled down her face and allowed one to beautifully dive into the water. "Kendra."
Buffy extracted another and stopped. A bird flew overhead. She let the rose slip from her hand. "Angel." She closed her eyes as wind blew through her hair.
The blonde opened her eyes to look down at the last five, her face moistened considerably more. 'I . . . I can't do this,' Buffy thought as she went to walk back to land. A gust of wind blew her hair into her face. She turned back to see the flowers still floating near the end of the pier. Buffy paced back to where she had been standing. The lake was peaceful and safe. 'They deserve this. They deserve to be safe.' Buffy separated three from the group and sat down on the pier. She carefully let them free to float on the lake. "Willow. Oz. Xander. You're safer now." The corners of her mouth twitched through her tears.
Buffy set one more loose on the water ripples of the lake. "Giles. You can finally go back to England." Her soul felt lighter as if the weight, she had been carrying, disappeared.
One red rose was left. Her mom's. Out of anger, she wanted to throw it into the lake, but she couldn't. Buffy viewed the serene lake. The flowers were floating out away from the pier. She stood in awe of such a sight and held the final rose close to her heart. She just couldn't let the rose go because after everything was said and done, her mother was still her mother. Buffy walked to back to her bag. She slung the bag's strap over her shoulder and slipped the stem of the rose into the side pouch, allowing the bloom to remain in the open air. Buffy peered back over her shoulder one last time at the lake before hiking to the bus station.
It was just past three p.m. when Buffy arrived at the station. She removed the two tickets from her bag and made her choice. Buffy traded one ticket for money at the ticket booth. Then, she followed the signs for the bus to Colorado Springs.
After she found the correct transportation, the driver checked her ticket and motioned for her to board. Buffy located an unoccupied row with a window seat. She sat down in the window seat and placed her duffel on the seat beside her. The blonde touched the petals of the rose. The flower's fragrance relaxed her. Buffy unzipped one section of her bag and drew out the packet and papers. With those on her lap, Buffy reclined back into her seat and watched the world outside. People rambled about aimlessly outside the window. Some knew where they were going. Others didn't have a clue. "Last call for passengers," the driver called. When no one approached the vehicle, he closed the door. "Thank you for choosing Colo-Tours Bus Line. We are now departing the Las Vegas Bus Depot. Our travel time is 12 hours and 30 minutes, not including traffic. There will be two half-hour rest stops. If needed, there is a restroom in the back of the bus. Otherwise, please remain in your seats and enjoy the scenery. Thank you." The bus started to pull away from the station and onto the highway. Landscape flew by as the sun painted its masterpiece across the plains.
Buffy opened the information packet. A stamped pamphlet slid out of the manila envelope into her hands. Buffy stuck the envelope into her bag as the bus rumbled over a pothole. She read the first page and frowned. Military time. Buffy calculated the difference.
Transportation to the complex:
Bus #245 (0600, 1200) (6AM, Noon)
Bus #248 (1800, 2400) (6PM, Midnight)
Transportation from the complex:
Bus #245 (0530, 1130) (5:30AM, 11:30AM)
Bus #248 (1730, 2330) (5:30PM, 11:30PM)
Must present badge and one form of identification to be allowed access.
Her eyes blurred as the small sentence reminded her of Slayer Number Two asking Willow for her reason entering the library. Memories of Kendra, who had lived by the handbook, rose and Buffy contemplated her lost successor. At first, she had been slightly . . . well maybe more than slightly . . . jealous of the attention Giles was giving the younger Slayer. But after a little time, Buffy saw they had more in common than meets the eye. They were sister Slayers. Kendra had followed the rules. She was see vampire, stake vampire. She was secret identity gal. Buffy rebelled and had friends. She hadn't lived by the book. Maybe if she had, then Kendra would be alive. 'No,' Buffy told herself. 'I . . I can't think like that. Not right now. Maybe later . . . well maybe later when I'm alone. Note to self: get a box of Kleenex and a gallon of ice cream ASAP.'
The vehicle rambled over another pothole and her mind wandering caused her to get a paper cut. "Ouch," Buffy whimpered and come back from memory lane. She read below the transportation times as she applied pressure to her finger with her thumb.
Upon arrival at base, show your badge and letter to an entrance guard. Someone will be assigned to bring you to the Commanding Officer's office for an introductory interview. More information will be available at that time.
'More information then? Wasn't this an information packet?' she questioned and flipped through the final pages. There was a map of the bus station and some facts about Colorado Springs. Though, on the last page was an interesting gag order agreement.
I, have agreed to not repeat any intelligence explained, experienced, overheard within the Cheyenne Mountain Complex . . .
Buffy paused. 'Well, nothing can be worse than the Initiative.' She shuddered at the thought and used the pen provided, in the packet, to sign 'Anne Winters'in the appropriate sections. Then, Buffy replaced the sheets into the envelope and looked at her paper cut. It was starting to clot as yet another memory surfaced.
"You want what?" Angel questioned as she looked into her mirror. Only Buffy appeared in the reflection. She was alone. "It's okay."
She turned to the souled vampire. "The Cliff Notes version? I want a normal life. Like I had before."
Buffy blinked her eyes as the bus stopped, caught in traffic. She peered out her window. Her attention was caught by some activity in tree. A butterfly was escaping from its cocoon. The small being tore its way out of the temporary dwelling. Once outside, the butterfly spread open its wings for the first time. Vivid colors glittered in the sunlight. Then, the butterfly stretched its wings one more time before taking off into the air without fear. She looked down at her hands. The petite blonde felt a surge of inspiration. As the butterfly fluttered across the meadow to land on a flower, the bus started to move again. 'No prophecies must have said I would leave,' Buffy thought. She felt lighter and relaxed. The girl went back to watching the world go by. Normal people doing normal things. "I'm unwritten," she whispered to herself and smiled. For the first time Anne truly felt free.
As the bus drove past, Whistler smiled. His blonde-haired Slayer was healing. On the other hand, the balance demon still sported bruises from their earlier meeting. A small butterfly landed on his outstretched hand. Yes, this Champion of the Light was on her path to recovery.
A/N: There it is, Chapter 3. This chapter had to be severely edited due to 'no song fics' policy. I think it actually works better without the lyrics. Well thanks for reading and hope you liked it. Look for Chapter 4 to be posted in the next week or so.
Oh, the next chapter (or maybe one after): "A bazor?"
Chapter 2 Reviewers:
Slinky-and-the-BloodyWands, sabriel, General Mac, ashes2342, and gaul1: Thank you all for reviewing! Hope you enjoy what happens in the future chapters!
Panther28: Thank you for reviewing! Okay, mainly the first three canon seasons occurred during the school year, in the show. So picture the first season in 9th grade. The beginning of Season 2 to 'Halloween' and the Initiative parts, of Season 4, in 10th grade. Then, starting with 'Lie To Me' to the end of Season 2 in 11th grade. I'm planning to write a prologue sooner or later.
Goddessa39 & deaths angel006: Pairings! Ummm . . . Ummm . . . Looks around nervously No comment . . . Thanks for reviewing! Runs and hides
Allen Pitt: Wow! Thank you for reviewing and for the ideas! I believe an assistant would do the background checks, but General Hammond would have to sign the papers and do the introductory interview. Again, thanks for the ideas!
Chapter 3 Reviewers:
Slinky-and-the-BloodyWands: Thanks! The races were amazing. Hope you like the changes!
Gaul1: Glad you liked the chapter, but hopefully you'll like it with the changes even better.
Lady J of moon's hallow: salutes Yes ma'm. Beware: It might be another week or so until Chapter 4 is up. I've had serious writer's block on the chapter, but it's almost done. (You posted twice didn't you?) No, I'm still not sure of the pairings yet.
Goddessa39: LOL! This'll definitely be Buffy-centric even though I'm still debating on the pairings.
Airborne-FireBird: Thank you for finding my mistake and I hope you like the story. If you see any more, please post them. :)
Allen Pitt: Good ideas! "Not saying a word" on what'll happen in the future chapters.
Julz: I'm still not sure about the pairings, but this'll definitely not be a slash fic.
Nervepillen: Hum . . . Good thinkin'.
LMiC2001: Thanks for the review and I hope you like the changes.
Morange & Delauro: Updates on the way:)