A/N: I'm not sure where to go from here. Open to suggestions if you like what you read so far.
Part 4
Leo was shocked by Buffy's last statement, "What do you mean you weren't brought back human?"
Buffy couldn't believe him. How hard was this to understand? A spell was cast and she was brought back wrong. She spoke with disgust lacing her tone toward him, "Do I need to spell it out for Leo? I'm not what I once was. I'm different now after…after being pulled back. I was brought back wrong as in NOT HUMAN!"
"Buffy you are human."
Defiantly she said, "No. If I were human you wouldn't have lost me and Spike wouldn't be able to hurt me."
"There is nothing wrong with you."
"You can say that as many time as you want Leo but I'll never believe it. I don't know what I am but it isn't human. It's not…" Buffy trailed off with hot tears flowing down her face.
Phoebe being the compassionate soul that she was went to Buffy. She couldn't stand the sight of someone so young in so much emotional anguish. It wasn't right. It wasn't just. Phoebe reached out to the young girl with every intention of pulling her in a tight hug. As soon as Phoebe's fingers touched Buffy bright blinding white lights filled not only her eye but her entire brain. Nothing else could break through. It was like nothing else she had ever experienced. It was an overwhelming premonition of nothing.
Piper could see beads of sweat form across her younger sister's forehead and her face suddenly lost of all color. Piper not knowing what else to do pulled Phoebe away and out of the premonition. Phoebe fell sweaty and breathless to the floor with Piper guiding her. Her skin was now so pale she was nearly gray. Her entire body shook from the shock.
Piper eyed Buffy briefly before speaking placing full attention on family, "honey, are you alright. What did you see?"
Phoebe struggled to speak while leaning heavily against Piper. Her words came out in breathy barely a whisper, "I don't know…I don't know." Her eyes were visibly growing heavy. She was trying to fight off dizziness and sudden wave nausea. Touching Buffy was the longest 60 seconds of her life 'note to self: DO NOT touch that girl again!'
Another person entered the manor. The front door had opened and closed without any of them realizing it. They were effectively distracted by the young blonde girl in the middle of the room now looking extremely distressed.
Prue Halliwell suddenly revealed herself from the foyer surprised at the sight before her. She saw Leo standing there with a stunned look. Phoebe looked pale and nearly unconscious on floor in Piper's arms. And an unknown female figure repeating over and over again 'I'm not human. You see! I'm not human.'
Being the fighter she is Buffy shook herself free of that binding thought seeing the two women on the floor as if for the first time. She stepped toward them ignoring the newcomer. She wasn't worried about an ambush at this stage. It was an automatic response as she went to help. When protection from ultimate evil has been your job for so many years it's hard to fight when someone…a human was hurt. Buffy now ignoring her own pain went to Phoebe. When Phoebe saw the girl come close she nearly screamed begging, "No! Please don't touch me again."
Prue went to her sisters where Phoebe was whimpering softly now, "Please don't touch me again."
Prue heard something in baby sister's voice. It was fear. Prue very rarely saw Phoebe scared. Her baby sister was probably the bravest person she knew. She depended on Phoebe to be the rock, brave and unwavering. The scene before her unnerved her to no end. Acting automatically to protect her family she waved her hand through the air. When her target had not moved away as intended Prue shared her sister's fear, "Nothing happened! Why didn't anything happen? Piper what's going on? Is Phoebe okay? She doesn't look good."
"Phoebe, honey, are you still with us?" Piper spoke while supporting Phoebe who had her head in her sister's lap. There was no answer. "I think she passed out", Piper said with worry evident in her voice not fully acknowledging Prue's presence. When Piper finally looked up she saw her other sister looking over her, "She doesn't freeze either but apparently she's susceptible to premonitions. It's a very long story which I don't real understand. Leo however, knows a lot more then he has been letting on."
"Phoebe had a premonition? What did she see?" Prue searched her memory for this kind of reaction from one of Phoebe's other visions. She came up empty and it worried her. Who the hell is this girl? What is she if not a witch?
"I don't know", Piper told her older sister while cradling her younger sister. Phoebe was no longer audible. Her breathing was slow and steady. Piper was hoping silently that she was simply asleep and not in some sort of a coma from the shock.
"LOOK! I'm not human!" Buffy said in a barely controlled panic. The words 'what are you?' rang in her head. She had been asked that question to many times today. It was all too much.
As if waking up from a dream Leo acted, "Buffy wait its okay. Please listen to me. You're human. I promise you. You are human."
As soon as he spoke those words he regretted it. He had broken one promise to this broken girl. Now he was attempting to do it again. Buffy screamed back in response to his words, "no! No! NO! YOU DO NOT GET TO PROMISE ANYTHING!"
"Buffy, I'm so sorry."
"You're sorry? I'm broken and you're sorry!" Buffy backed against the wall. With no where else to escape she sank to the floor drawing her knees to her chest.
Leo walked slowly over to her. When she didn't move he place a tentative hand on her face. The same golden light which healed her wounds seemingly hours ago once again flowed from his hand. He spoke gently with remorse in his voice, "Buffy you are human. You are flesh and blood. You are a great force of good to be reckoned with. You are needed here for the survival of you friends…your family. You are needed for the survival of the world. You are human. I need you to please believe me. I'm begging you for forgiveness."
