Here's the next chap!

ShouldbeinHollyWood: thanks 4 reviewing!

Life

Buffy stared out her now curtained windows and sighed. Life in Rome was boring. She patrolled regularly, but no vamps. Oh well, at least Dawn's settling in all right.

Dawn had been enrolled in a Catholic Academy in the East Side. Her grades had jumped from the low C's and D's she had been getting in Sunnydale, to high B's and A's. Those nuns must really know what they're doing. Dawn's even speaking Italian around the apartment these days.

Buffy sighed again. Italian. She had to learn the language around here soon or she'd be ordering the couch to touch her from Tuesday at restaurants, and incorrectly too. Does anyone around here speak English, other than the nuns? Even Xander had caught on to some words and phrases.

"Knock, knock. Hey B." Faith spoke from the doorway. "You going to eat? Jeeves's got some pretty good pasta out here. What's the menu look like from over there?"

"Headache and boredom puree." Buffy replied smiling softly.

"Gross. Maybe you should get out more B. Hey! You know what? Red found a pretty cool looking American club in the South Side. You wanna go?" Faith asked stepping into the room.

"No, but thanks for asking."

"Come on B. Have some fun. Besides you know Dawn is going to find out about this place, maybe we should case the joint before she goes." Faith walked over to Buffy and stared out the window. " Man, they sure keep alleys clean in this town." Seriously, thought Buffy, no vamps, demons or the like anywhere.

"I think I'm going to patrol. The full moon cycle starts tomorrow, maybe some Weres'll get over-happy and come out and play." Buffy said stepping away from the window and walking to her closet. Faith watched her open the door and reach in side and pull out a long, black leather coat. Buffy pulled it on, and started for the door.

"B, why do you do that?" Faith stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Do what?" Buffy asked

"Go out and patrol every time the going's rough or you don't want to talk about something."

"I go off every time I don't want to talk? What about you Faith? You're like Spike; you love violence, a good fight. Especially when you're flustered or upset." Buffy glared at Faith. "So don't you go telling me when I can patrol or when I can't."

"Wow B. You grew a backbone."

"And proud of it." Buffy grinned at Faith, who grinned back. It was like this mostly, between her and Faith, small spats that ended with them being friends. Back in Sunnydale, before... everything, Buffy would have stormed out of the room angry. But now they grinned like life long buddies.

Faith stopped grinning and closed the door to Buffy's room. Faith turned and leaned against the door and folded her arms across her chest. "How you holding up? You seem to be doing better, since you so freely used Spike as an example in your tirade back there, but honestly B. How're you doing?"

Buffy smiled sadly. "I guess I'm doing better. I didn't even notice saying Spike's name back there. That's a start right?" Faith returned the smile and opened Buffy's door. "Yah, B. It's a start."

Buffy kicked at a rock on the sidewalk as she walked towards the closest cemetery, witch was about five miles away. She would have moved into an apartment that was closer but there were no apartments in that part of town. Stupid Catholics. Whose idea was it to separate the living from the dead? Do they have any idea how much harder they've made my job? Buffy stopped for moment thinking. Then again probably not.

She had managed to get out of her apartment without to much difficulty. No, she'd only had to eat a plate of pasta, proof read Dawn's writing assignment, tell Xander how to spell 'fool', explain to Willow why she had to patrol 'right now' and help Giles load the dishwasher. If she hadn't had Faith's help she probably still be back there. Faith had saved her by offering to wash the dishes, correct Dawn's spelling work and to keep Xander from eating the soap in the bathroom ("But it says soy grain!" "That doesn't mean you can eat it Xander.").

Buffy jumped as a police car (ok it was probably Interpol or something like that. Buffy just thought it was easier to say police) with blaring sirens raced past her. Buffy watched the car turn off into a side street and decided to follow it. Not one of her better ideas.

Buffy was panting by the time the police car stopped. I'm never doing that again! Buffy thought as she caught her breath. Man, I must've run at least ten miles! Buffy looked around trying to figure out where she was. Three other police cars were parked outside of an alley. She stood still and watched as the police officers got out of the car and walked up to the other police men that were in the alley.

"Evening Steve. What have you got here?"

"Dead Caucasian female. About 23 years old, 5' 7", no purse or wallet."

"Cause of death?"

"It looks like loss of blood from that wound on her neck. But I won't know for sure until after the autopsy." Steve glanced over at the others. "It looks like there was astruggle."

"Yah, any witnesses?"

"No."

"O.K. pack 'er up and tape it."

I wonder what's going on? Buffy hadn't understood any the prior conversation since she didn't speak Italian, and she couldn't see the body. After inching around and standing on her tippy toes for several minutes Buffy decided to take the direct approach.

"Hey, what's going on?"

The officer she had directed the question to, jerked in surprise. He stared at her. OK, Buffy thought I mean who wouldn't stare at a 5'4" girl a leather jacket and stilettos, with her hair all done up like she was going to a party? She reached out and waved a hand in front of his face. "Hello? Any body home? I know I'm pretty but don't you think you're overdoing it?" The man flushed. "Stop that." He said grabbing Buffy's arm. "You should go home little girl." Buffy bristled at that. Little girl? Is that a slur on my size? How rude! I oughtta bet this guy up. Then Buffy saw the girl.

She was strewn out over several trash bags someone had put out early. One of her legs was bent at an angle that told Buffy that it was broken. So was her arm, and neck, if Buffy was seeing this right. Her long red hair flowed out across the dirty alley floor like a fan. She must have been beautiful in life, Buffy thought sadly. Then she saw the bite mark. She had missed it at first because the vamp had drained the girl so dry, she was white, and made it hard to see.

"Come on girl." The policeman tugged on her arm and gave her a pleading glance. Buffy looked at him, gave a sad smile, and walked away.

As she walked back towards the cemetery Buffy pondered what she had seen. Why drain her that far? They must be really hungry to do that. Which proves that they're hiding from me. But why hide? I know I'm the slayer and all that, but usually they come hunting me, wanting to kill me. Buffy walked into something and looked up. She saw that she had walked into a headstone. Carefully maneuvering around the headstones Buffy set out through the graveyard.

And walked straight into a vamp. Buffy quickly recovered herself and snapped off a kick at the vamp's head. Which he dodged. The vamp, a middle age looking guy, grinned at her "Slayer!" Buffy looked at him, "and where have you been all my life?" She quipped. Then she charged in and started throwing paunches to his body. The vamp fought back and managed to get a few good ones in, but he was no match for Buffy. She kicked him in the solar plexus and pinned him to a mausoleum. " OK bub, what's going on around here? Why do you guys hide from me? And how long do you think you will last even if you do?" The vamp glared at her, but didn't say a word. "Come on! You're already dead, what have you got to live for? You might as well fess up." Buffy shook her head. Vamps are soooo stupid.

"You will get you comeuppance Slayer! Just you wait!" The vamp snarled. " Well if that's all you're going give me..." Buffy whipped out a stake and made him a pile of dust.

Buffy stood looking down at the remains of the vamp for a moment. Maybe Rome won't be so boring after all.

So? Whadda think? I live for reviews! Who can tell me the BTVS quote that was in this chap?

O and unintentional slur on Catholics srry