Buffy continues to stare at the wall in front of her as she plays with the food on her plate while Willow yammers on about something to do with programming. Honestly, she was talking the wrong Summers.
The blonde continues to stare at the wall as thoughts about what had happened last night continue to plague her, she had lost control. Last night she had lost control and let her anger take over, there was something about this town and this mission that was making her weak.

Clenching her jaw slightly she feels her grasp tighten around her mug as she brings it to her lips.

Willow who was digging into her curly fries freezes in her actions as she notices the subtle changes from Buffy whenever Buffy was feeling tight or wound up she would tense up and things would start breaking, the red head could practically see the cracks forming around the mug as Buffy's grasp tightened.
"Alright there Buff? You're Buffness is showing." She says gesturing to the mug causing Buffy's eyes to widen and her to quickly place it back on the table.

Taking a deep breath Buffy smiles brightly "Yeah fine." She tries but clearly Willow wasn't buying it.

Willow chuckles slightly before leaning onto her elbows and looking at her best friend with an arched brow "Felicity told me what happened? Are we gonna talk about it?"

Buffy gulps slightly, she didn't want to talk about her loss of control last night, she didn't want to think about it, because every time she did her anger just got worse.

"Nope." She says sweetly before taking a sip of her drink and smiling brightly, playing the part of the happy blonde perfectly...if Willow had been a stranger and not her best friend she would have been fooled by it.
So instead Buffy decided to change the subject "So how are things at the arrow-cave?" Buffy teases as she leans forward resting her chin on her hands.

Willow chuckles slightly "Well, Oliver's evil ex is in town."
"The one I punched in the face?" Buffy asks with an arched brow.
"Yep."
Buffy chuckles slightly, he seriously had strange taste in women "Great the purple power puff bitch edition fun."

After being practically forced to agree to help Helena, Oliver stands opposite Diggle who was still scoffing at any explanation that Oliver provided.

Dig didn't trust Helena for good reason and he couldn't believe that Oliver would willingly help her let alone defend her actions, which he was currently doing.

Oliver sighs before glancing at his friend and partner "Are you going to sit there and tell me you don't know what it's like to want revenge?"
Diggle clenches his jaw at that, Oliver was treading dangerous territory there.

"What would you do?" The vigilante continues "Hm, if Floyd Lawton was standing right there?"

Diggle glares at his friend but swallows his anger trying to stay focused on their topic of discussion "Nothing that would involve blackmailing you into hunting him down."

Oliver sighs "You're right okay?" He finally admits "I can't kill her. And I can't take her to the police and risk her exposing all of this. She knows too much Dig, she knows about the woman in Red..." At those words Diggle freezes remembering back to Buffy admitting that she had sort of threatened Helena last time the woman was in town, hiding his reaction he tries to focus on Oliver as he continues to speak "But...at least if I'm involved I can contain her. All right? I can find out more about the woman in red and I can minimize the collateral damage."

The sound of heels clicking along the floor make both of them pause, they both turn only to be faced with the woman in question.
"Sorry." Helena breaths as she stops "Am I interrupting something?"

After her lunch with Buffy Willow makes her way down the stairs towards the Foundry.

As she opens the door and begins to walk down the stairs she hears Oliver "I haven't been able to locate the safe house where the FBI is keeping your father."

Willow grins at the idea of hacking into the FBI she hadn't done that in a while, and by a while she meant like two days but still, that was like a lifetime in a hacker's life.

Turning the corner she freezes slightly at the sight of Diggle and Oliver standing opposite an unfamiliar raven haired woman "I can help with that." She says drawing the three's attention "I haven't hacked into the FBI database since Buffy got in some trouble last year..." She winces at the memory of the man hunt the FBI had done for Buffy when she was a mercenary.

Oliver instantly turns to her, panic spreading through his face "Get out. Get out." He yells while Helena stares at the redhead in confusion "This is a private thing, Willow."

Diggle sighs before slowly approaching the Redhead "Will go home. I'm sure Buffy's waiting for you." He says as he faces her his eyes gesturing to Helena.
Willow gulps slightly, Dig had told her Helena was back but she hadn't expected to see her here.

"Ok." She breaths before making her way out, texting Buffy to let her know that Oliver was working with Helena.

Five Years Ago – Boston

"So Angel is missing...Wesley's soul is enslaved to Wolfram and Hart...and you have been tempted to kill your boss?" Willow sums up after Buffy had finished filling her in on all the drama that had happened over her past few months in Boston.

Buffy chuckles as she hears it out loud, trouble always seemed to find her no matter what life she tried to build for herself; the supernatural always seemed to track her down.

"Pretty much."

Present Day – Starling City

After her lunch with Willow, Buffy makes her way towards the hospital just wanting to get started on her long shift, she needed a distraction right about now and sewing up wounds and helping people was the best way to settle her anger issues.

"Hey pretty lady." A familiar voice says causing the blonde to grin happily, the anger slowly melting away as a strong familiar arm wraps around her waist turning her to face those beautiful eyes.
Buffy smiles at her boyfriend allowing him to kiss her softly on the lips before he watches her with a curious frown "Buff you alright?"

Buffy's smile falters for a split second as the idea of Marcus coming after Dean hit her, she had not meant to begin caring about him but somehow he was pushing at walls she had built a long time ago.

Forcing a smile back on her face she leans forehead and kisses him softly, when she pulls back she smiles teasingly "Totally of the okay."

Dean chuckles before throwing an arm over her shoulder and beginning to lead her towards the cafeteria.

Buffy smiles slightly, for the first time in a long time despite everything going on with Wolfram and Hart and Marcus threatening her family, she actually felt happy. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to not have a cloud of guilt, regret and grieve eating at her every second of everyday.

As Dean goes to grab their coffee Buffy grabs their normal table, due to both of them having such hectic schedules it was harder for them to date like a normal couple, so they tended to grab coffee or dinner when they were both at the hospital, and majority of the time, that lead to them both running off the sleeping quarters for something other than sleeping.

She smiles slightly before the thought of Marcus and his threat against her friends and Felicity began plaguing her thoughts again.

Suddenly the sound of her phone ringing draws her attention, sighing the blonde grabs her phone answering it quickly before Dean saw. Due to their limited time together they always agreed not to take phone calls on their lunch dates.
"Hello?"
"Hello Miss Summers..."

At Marcus' familiar voice Buffy tenses up, her fist clenching and shaking slightly.

"I wouldn't make any sudden movements if I were you Miss Summers so that blade in your pocket best be left alone."

At his words, Buffy's eyes widen, how did he know she had the blade on her and where it was?
She looks down at where her shaky hand was now hovering over her pocket where the blade was. As she stares everything clicks, he was here or he had someone here watching her.

Swinging her head around the room she tries to remain calm as her eyes scan over everyone looking for any sign of Marcus.

Marcus chuckles as her failed attempt, the sound vibrating through the phone "Buffy, we have demons everywhere do you really think we wouldn't have one in the hospital you work at. Watching you, seeing who you speak to, who you..." he pauses as though trying to find the words "Open up to."

Buffy's eyes widen in panic and her eyes fly to Dean who was stood by the counter his blue scrubs slightly ruffled from the long shift he had just worked.

Her lip quivers as she realises that Marcus was threatening him, all because of her, because she had let her guard down, because she had let him in.

"That's right." Marcus teases "Your doctor boyfriend...you really do have a thing for blonde doctors don't you."

At his words Buffy clenches her jaw imagining all the ways she was going to kill him when she got ahold of him "Does he know? About you about all the dangers being with you put him in?"
"I swear to God Marcus if you touch him—"
"Listen to me Miss Summers, stay away from our plans. We've already threatened the redhead don't make us start taking out your people one by one."

Oliver sighs as he approaches Helena, so much had happened in such a short period of time, after trying and failing to get the transport van with her father on it, Oliver had had to get her out of jail after she had been caught.

He clenches his jaw as he stares down at his ex, luckily for him she hadn't revealed his identity to Lance but he wasn't quite sure why.

"Thanks for the save." Helena tells him as she stand opposite him still in her Huntress suit.
Oliver clenches his jaw "I couldn't risk you telling the police about me."

Helena's eyes fill with hurt at his words, but he didn't believe it for a second, it was all apart of her act "Is that the only reason?" When he doesn't reply her face falls "Why can't you just admit that you still have feelings for me, too?"

At her question Oliver pauses and for the briefest moment another strong woman crosses his mind, the Woman in Red. He sighs forcing thoughts out of his mind as he reaches into his suit and pulls out an envelope.

At the sight of it Helena rolls her eyes "What is that?"
"A plane ticket to Rome." He tells her refusing to look her in the eye as he speaks "And a new passport so you can start a new life somewhere else. The police know you're tracking your father, Helena. You'll never find him. So get out of my city."

A few hours after her strange encounter with Oliver, Dig and Helena, Willow sits at her desk at Queen Consolidated. She looks over at Felicity's desk and sighs, Felicity had been spending so much time with Buffy that Xander had started claiming that Miss Smoke was his personal IT so that her boss didn't freak out.
But that meant Willow was often left alone being the only one with a brain in this whole department.

Groaning as she hits Buffy's voicemail again she sighs and hangs up, glancing at her watch she couldn't help but groan Buffy must be on a job.

Spinning in her chair for a moment she turns back to the computer screen only for her eyes to widen at what pops up onto the screen.

Grabbing her phone she stumbles slightly it slipping out of her grasp causing her to growl in annoyance as she picks it clumsily off the ground before dialling Oliver's number.
When she reaches his voicemail she couldn't help but roll her eyes, what was the point of cell phones if no one answered calls.

"Oliver, as I am alone in my office I get bored which means I have free time to do things like...intercept police reports. Like locals thefts. Including one that happened like ten minutes ago. Let me break it down for you, high powered crossbow, that sound like anybody you know?"

Willow sighs and she moves to grab her bag, she was done waiting around. As she turns however, she freezes at the sight of the Huntress grinning evilly at her, Willow's eyes widen her hand clutching onto the phone which she had still yet to hang up
"Hi. I don't think we had a chance to be properly introduced this morning."

"I'm putting him in danger Xander." Buffy tells Xander as they speak over the phone.

Moving out of the way as her patient is rushed into the ER she sighs for a moment before looking over as Dean rushes over to the guy she had brought in and begins rushing him to surgery.

"Buffy this isn't your fault."

Buffy smiles sadly "Thanks Xand but yes it is. I..I let him into my life and now he is being threatened...I can't lead another man I care about to his death."
Buffy takes a heavy breath and leans her head against the wall for second before she spots Stewart getting their van ready so they could go on another job.

Taking a small moment Buffy closes her eyes "I care about him too much to let him get involved in all of this Xander."
"So what are you gonna do?"

Buffy freezes contemplating the question for a second before an incoming call from her cousin makes her pause "Xand, Liz is calling me, I'll call you back."
Buffy hangs up on her best friend before accepting the call from Felicity "Hey Liz..."

"Buffy something happened..."

"Willow!" Buffy screams as she rushes into the IT department still in her work uniform, the minute Felicity had told her what she had seen on the security camera in Willow's office Buffy had taken off, completely ignoring Stewarts calls.

Rushing towards Willow's office Buffy hears movement inside, leaping up she grabs onto the doorframe and swings herself forward her feet connecting with a hard chest.

Leaping down she watches as the figure falls to the ground with a grunt before she raises her fist prepared to defend her best friend only for someone screaming her name to make her pause.

"Buffy!"

Buffy spins around only to come face to face with Diggle, she sighs in relief before turning towards Oliver who it seems she had just pummelled.

"Oliver." She whispers in panic before running over and bending down beside him checking to make sure she hadn't hurt him too badly.

Oliver winces slightly, the pain in his chest feeling more like a ton of bricks having hit him in the chest than the five foot four blonde.
He sits there on the floor for a moment trying to catch his breath when Buffy appears in his line of vision.
She crouches down in front of him cupping his cheek in her palm as she examines him making sure he was okay.

Oliver couldn't help but stare at the stunning woman in front of him, she had panic in her eyes most probably from finding out about what Helena had done to her best friend.

Catching her eye he holds her gaze and in that moment and unsettling feeling stirs in his stomach, one he didn't understand, all he knew was that he liked her touch and that he didn't want her to let him go.

Buffy on the other hand was feeling very different in this moment she was just hoping that she hadn't seriously hurt the guy who had been helping Willow and Diggle.

When she realises that she hadn't caused any serious damage to him she lets go of him and mumbles a quick sorry before her head spins around to face the source of her panic.
Willow was sat in her chair, her straight red hair now muffled and messy and there was bruising around her wrists.

"Will." She breaths before running over to her best friend and cupping her face in her hands "Are you okay? Did she hurt you?"
Willow who had tears in her eyes shakes her head and takes Buffy's hand in her own "I'm okay Buffy, I promise."

Buffy sighs before running a hand through her hair, which was now hanging in a lose ponytail around her.

The blonde sighs before turning to Diggle and Oliver "What the hell happened? The security blacked out all we got was sound."
Oliver clenches his jaw before turning to glance at Diggle who was watching Buffy and Willow with a worried frown "Helena."

At his words Buffy clenches her fist and arches a brow at the vigilante "Your psycho ex did this?" When Oliver doesn't answer Buffy makes a move towards the door "That bitch is dead."
Oliver quickly moves to block the murderous Slayer's path "You're not gonna do anything."

At his words Buffy scoffs, if he really thought he could order her around he had another thing coming "You gonna stop me?" She challenges stepping into his personal space "She hurt Willow end of story. Now get out of my way Oliver."

The two stand there facing off chest to chest keeping their eyes locked as they both challenged each other.

"Buffy please." Willow's small voice asks causing emotion to flood the blonde's eyes, she immediately breaks eye contact with Oliver and moves her to her best friend hugging her tightly.

After a long moment the two separate, as they do Willow looks in between Oliver and Diggle "She wanted the address of the safe house where her father's being kept. She made me hack the FBI database. I'm sorry guys."
"It's not your fault." Oliver and Buffy say at the same time before Oliver makes a move towards the door.

"Oliver what are you gonna do?" Diggle asks while Buffy continues to keep ahold of her best friend.
Oliver pauses and turns back to the group "What I should have done in the first place."

At that he leaves the room while Diggle turns to Buffy "I take it you're gonna need a change of clothes?"
"I owe the purple power puff girl a black eye." Buffy says causing Diggle to sigh as he gestures for both women to follow him.

As they move Buffy turns to Willow who was frozen "What is it?"

Willow takes a shaky breath before looking up at Buffy with tears in her eyes "She could have killed me Buffy. I'm no use to you or anyone like this."
Buffy's eyes widen and she places a hand on Willow's shoulders "Hey look at me. It doesn't matter..."

"Buffy without my magic I can't help you, I can't help anyone. I should have never done that spell."

"Willow listen to me with or without magic you are the strongest person I know. You can survive anything. You're my heart Will, you and Xand."