Part 2

They pulled up to the address Buffy had read on Spike's letter. Each of them looked questioningly at Buffy. All she said was, "I inherited a key."

They continued to stare at her but stayed silent. They knew when Buffy was ready they would be told. Giles parked their big yellow school bus in front of the house. It was a beautiful probably built at the end of the 19h century. It was surrounded by other beautifully preserved 19th century homes. The neighborhood was a grand sight.

Nearly everyone walked to the house. Some went inside while other ventured to the back yard. Buffy stayed behind taking in the view then caught figure of a man from the corner of her eye. He was someone she recognized. How was it even possible?

"It can't be", she whispered as she began walking toward the house across the street without a word to the others. The weariness in her bones diminished slightly with the need to reach him. She climbed the front steps reaching him as he rang the door bell.

"Leo?" she asked quietly.

The man turned around with a look of pure surprise on his face, "Buffy?" He recognized her from the same place she recognized him…heaven.

That one word from his lips, her name, triggered a fury of fist and feet. She grabbed him by the collar throwing him over her shoulder effortlessly. He landed on his back with an, "umph!" He struggled to his feet before she reached him. He might be an angel but she was far from it. Buffy was in a barely controllable rage but still strong and graceful.

His arms were up in defense and no attempt to fight back. He let her pound his human form mercilessly. She'll have to get tired sometime. Well that was his hope at any rate. She threw expert kicks and well placed punches. He was a sturdy being but he still felt the pain of each of the blows. Buffy was not an average girl and he was well aware of her capabilities.

Suddenly the door opened amidst the flurry that was Buffy and Leo revealing the occupant. Leo had forgotten he had knocked on the door mere seconds ago before Buffy had found him. Piper Halliwell stepped onto her front porch with shock and surprise written over her face. Instinctively she raised her hands quickly freezing the scene. Most of the seen would be more accurate. Leo stood motionless with his hands up but the tiny woman pounding him was able to follow through with a mighty upper cut sending Leo flying an unnatural distance. No one that small should have that much power. This girl was supernatural and a great force of good not to be met in a dark alley. Demons would fear her for good reason.

Buffy stopped throwing her furious fists looking amazed. She finally noticing that all things around her were frozen in mid motion. Birds in mid flight, people in mid walk, trees in mid sway, Leo unmoving on his back hands up in mid defense. She looked over to see a very angry and astonished woman on the porch. She suddenly started screaming, "what the hell is going on? Why didn't you freeze? Why are beating the hell out of my boyfriend? How are you able even able to that?"

"You did this?" Buffy asked waving her hands wide indicating the still frozen seen. "Nice", she continued approvingly.

Piper looked at her dumbfounded not knowing what to do. She answered frantically, "Y-Yes and you were also supposed to freeze. Why didn't you? Are you a witch?"

"No but I can introduce you to a very powerful one", Buffy said smugly.

"Wait one minute! You didn't answer my question! Why are beating on my boyfriend?"

Buffy took a deep shaky breath falling slowly to her knees then said quietly, "he broke a promise to me."

With the sight before her Piper felt her heart break for the girl, "how do you know him? What kind of promise?"

Tears were flowing freely down Buffy's cheeks, "unfreeze the scene and asked him."

Piper once again raised her hands immediately the scene began moving and Leo let out a yelp and landing hard, "ouch!"

"Leo, honey, I think you have some explaining to do", Piper said glaring at him from above.

He looked up, "Piper!" He was getting up off the ground and moving towards the house.

"Ah, yeah…Leo what the hell is going on? And who is she? Damnit! Someone answer me," she demanded more forcefully.

Buffy was still on her knees breathing heavily. He went to her not answering his girlfriend. When his hand touched Buffy's skin she fell forward for him to catch.

"I'm not sure of everything but I will do my best to explain. Let's get her inside", he said already gathering the young woman in his arms. He walked through the front door toward the living room depositing his load to the couch.

"Okay Leo spill."

"This is Buffy. She came to us…to me. She was destined to be a Whitelighter but she was pulled away violently and I couldn't locate her. We…I thought I lost her."

"I don't understand."

"I don't either. Not entire anyway. To get the whole story we'll have to ask her."

"Oh, God Leo she's bleeding," Piper said pointing to a large red stain on Buffy once white shirt.

Leo pulled the flap of her jacket to reveal a stab wound and several black and blue areas. This girl had been in one hell of fight. He put his hands over the wounds. A bright gold flowing light emitted from his hands into Buffy's body healing her.

"She was hurt by demons or I wouldn't have been able to heal her."

"Heal her? You healed her? What? How could you do that?"

"Piper there are things you don't know about me. I have secrets like you have secrets."

"Gee you think, Leo? We need to have a serious discussion about what ever it is you are? If you healed her why isn't she waking up?"

"Her wounds are more than physical", he told her quietly.

"Is she going to be alright?"

"I think so. She just needs to rest and let her mind work."

"So, do you have any idea where she came from?" She asked.

The only response he had was a shrug of his shoulders. He had no clue. He didn't have the answers but he was desperately hoping to get some once Buffy, his charge, awoke. All they could do for now was wait.