Sorry about the extreme delay in posting this. I started a new job and university this year and haven't had time for anything other than school and work. I am currently writing the next chapter so hopefully it won't be such a long wait. Hopefully.

In this chapter, I did gloss over a couple of episodes at the start of this season, but I am assuming you know what I have missed, if not, review and I would be glad to explain, but please remember that this is a fanfic, it will be different from the shows sometimes.

Anywho, please enjoy and leave reviews. They make me so very happy.

Chapter Five

"Dean? Wha-What?" Buffy couldn't stop the tears coming from her eyes.

"Buffy, what are you doing here?" Dean asked softly.

"What am I doing here?! What are YOU doing there?! You were dead! I saw you die!" By the time she had finished, she was almost doubled over as sobs wracked her chest.

"Buf-" Faith said, walking over to wrap her arms over Buffy, looking at Dean with confusion. "Why didn't you tell us you were alive?" She asked on Buffy's behalf, "how are you even here? We saw you dead. There was barely anything left."

The memory caused Buffy to sob harder.

The sight of Buffy, doubled over in her friends arms, distraught, broke Dean in two.

"Buffy, please."

"No! You don't get to say please!" She screamed, ripping herself out of Faith's arms. "How long? How long have you been alive?" She yelled pushing him in the chest, causing him to stumble back.

"A year," he replied hoarsely.

"A year," Buffy replied softly. "You've been alive for a year." She stopped and looked at him, really looked. He looked as broken as she felt. "How could you do this to me? Didn't you love me?" She barely asked above a whisper.

Dean looked at Sam, saw him shuffling awkwardly. He took Buffy by the arms and led her to the bench, and sat her down.

"Of course I loved you. That's why I didn't tell you."

Buffy scoffed, while sniffling, "That's fucking bullshit."

"No, no it's not," he sighed, wishing they could have this talk any other place but to here, "I went to New York, Buffy. I went to find you, and I saw you happy with a new job and a new life. And a new guy. I didn't want to ruin it for you. I thought you deserved more."

"New guy?"

"Tall? Dark hair?"

Buffy chuckled, unbelievably, "Josh? He's a work colleague. A gay work colleague."

"Oh," Dean responded, feeling like an idiot. "It doesn't change anything Buffy. No, listen to me. You were out of the life, you were happy and free! I couldn't drag you back into the darkness with me."

"That wasn't your choice to make!"

"YES it was! I couldn't do it, Buffy! I couldn't! Please understand," he pleaded.

Buffy's eyes wouldn't stop watering, but she couldn't say anything in return. She felt so betrayed and hurt.

Sam spoke up to break the silence, "Faith, why are you here? How did you find us?"

"We were looking for you, Stretch, hoping you could give us some info. Dawnie is missing, and we think you know something that could help us."

"Dawn is missing? Of course! Anything, what do you need?"

"What do you know about Lucifer rising?"

**********************************************************************************They had agreed to meet at a motel later on that night to discuss things privately.

During the thirty minute drive, Buffy didn't speak a word. She sat in the passenger seat, with a straight back, not moving a muscle.

"Alright, B, I know you just had huge news, but you're starting to freak me out."

After a moment of silence, Buffy replied, "did you know?"

Faith's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "About Dean? Are you kiddin? Of course not!" The passion in her voice was ripe with the truth.

Buffy sighed, and adjusted her body to slightly face Faith. "How could he do this to me?"

"From the sound of it, B, he just wanted to protect you. Dumb move but it came from the right place."

"It wasn't his choice," Buffy replied with gritted teeth.

Faith decided to keep her mouth shut for the rest of the ride.

"Dean, what are you gunna do?" Sam asked quietly, asking from the driver's side.

"Do? About what?"

"About Buffy."

"Nothin'. We're going to give them the information they want and send them on their merry way," Dean replied darkly, staring out the window.

"She isn't gunna like that."

"She doesn't have a choice."

The boys arrived at the motel before the Slayers and booked a room, waiting outside for the girls to arrive. Once the girls pulled up, they followed the boys inside the motel room.

"Okay, let's get down to business," Dean said coldly, causing everyone else in the room to feel immediately awkward.

"Fine," Faith said angrily, "we got word that you boys are messing in some bad shit again. Lucifer's out and all fingers are pointing at you."

Sam looked ashamed, "What's that have to do with Dawn?"

"The day the big guy gets released, Dawn goes missing. No spell can track her, so someone with muscle has her."

"I don't know what we can tell you. We don't know where she is." Dean grumbled.

"How about you tell us what happened in that Church, and why you were involved?" Buffy cut back, angrily.

Sam immediately looked ashamed and stared down at his feet.

"Spill it, Stretch," Faith demanded.

Over the next ten minutes, Sam told the Slayers about Ruby, his powers, the seals, the rise of Lucifer, and their role as vessels, as well as everything in between.

"Well, you fucked up," Faith said bluntly.

"Yeah, Faith, I know," Sam sighed.

"Do you?" She asked angrily, "every time you boys get mixed into something, we have to send our girls out to clean up the mess. You seem to think this shit is just centred in whatever backwards fuck town you're currently in, but in reality, a lot of good hunters, and slayers, die because of your fuck ups," Faith finished angrily, facing the boys.

Sam flushed with guilt and anger, "I was trying to do the right thing!"

"The right thing would've been to come to us! We have a global organisation fit for this stuff, but instead you trust a demon? Were you dropped on the head?" She shouted back.

Everyone else in the room was silent in the wake of Faith's anger.

"You're right," Sam finally admitted. "I fucked up," he said with slumped shoulders, sitting on the side of the bed.

Faith calmed herself. "Alright, boys, I think it's time to call that little Angel buddy of yours. He might know where to find Dawn."

Dean cleared his throat, from his station on the back wall. He had been uncharacteristically quiet during the conversation, spending his time trying to avoid Buffy's glare, "it's not that easy," he grunted out, "he doesn't always come."

"Well, try" Buffy replied, through gritted teeth. She hadn't forgotten the wrong that Dean had done to her, and they would handle it later, but for now, Dawn came first.

"Alright," he replied, clearly his throat again, more awkwardly this time, he yelled, "Cas, you there? Can you come down here for a quick moment?"

A moment passed and nothing happened.

"Grea-" Buffy started, before being interrupted by the sounds of flapping winds.

"Dean, please, I cannot come to you whenever you please. My task is important, and urgent."

"Yeah, Cas, I know, but I have some ladies here that have a few questions for ya."

Faith and Buffy had moved to stand next to each other and stare at the Angel standing before them.

"Ya feel that?" Faith whispered.

"Ya huh," Buffy replied, in awe.

"Makes me all headspiny,"

"Ya huh."

"Slayers," Castiel stated, looking at the girls, he turned to the blonde Slayer, "Buffy Summers. It is a true honour to meet you. I never had the pleasure while you were residing with us," emotion creeping into his voice.

Buffy flushed, "Thank you?"

The boys looked at each other, amazed that someone could have an impact on the usually stoic Angel.

"We had reports that you had retired? Why are you with the Winchesters?"

"I am, was, retired. I just need help," Buffy stammered out, overwhelmed.

"What can I do to help you?" Castiel asked.

"Oh with them, it's all with the 'help yous', but I get the cold shoulder," Dean complained.

"I don't understand? How have I affected the temperature of your shoulder?"

Dean moaned in annoyance as the Slayers giggled, and Sam chuckled.

Buffy soon become solemn again, "My sister has gone missing. We think she has been caught up with the Winchester's mess," she replied, throwing a bitter look in the boy's direction.

"Dawn Summers. The Key," Castiel added, almost to himself. "The Key has always worried us. We had no control over it, or its powers. The energies from the Key are immensely powerful, and completely uncontrollable once activated. I could see why someone would want to control it."

"Not it, her," Buffy said, stepping forward, "my sister, she's innocent."

"Yes, they usually are," Castiel replied. He thought quietly for a moment, before disappearing.

"What?" Buffy asked angrily, swinging around to face the boys.

"He does that sometimes," Dean explained, still actively not looking at Buffy.

The sound of wings announced Castiel's re-entrance, catching everyone off guard.

"I have spoken to some of my Brother's and Sister's. It would seem that Dean is not the only human able to contain Michael's essence. There are two others."

"What? What has this got to do with Dawn?" Buffy asked impatiently.

"Buffy, listen," Faith urged.

"Buffy Summer, you, as the first and original Slayer, have the powers and strength to contain Michael's vessel in the fight against Lucifer. As is Dawn," He explained.

"Wha- . No. Not again. They can't use her again!" She screamed, picking up Cas and smashing him against the motel wall. "Where is she?!"

Castiel was passive as he replied, "We don't know. We don't have her. She's been taken by the other side as a counter measure."

"Counter measure?" Buffy dropped Castiel, confused, "For what?"

"If Dean does not agree to become Michael's vessel, Dawn could be used instead. Lucifer knew that, so it is very likely that he has taken her hostage."

Buffy slumped to the ground in defeat. For the second time in her life, Dawn had been taken from her, to be used in the name of Evil.

Faith crouched down to Buffy and hugged her close, understanding her pain.

Sam looked at the girls in concerned, but continued the line of questioning, "Why haven't they taken Buffy? I mean, if she can be used as a vessel, wouldn't they try and take her too?"

"It seems that no one can trace Buffy. I, myself, can see her, but I cannot feel her, as I should."

"Red," Faith explained, "When Buffy moved to New York, we used every mojo in the book to keep her safe and hidden. Too many big baddies want their swing at the Big Dog."

Sam nodded, but was still confused, "I still don't understand how is Dawn strong enough to contain Michael? I can understand Buffy, but why Dawn?"

Castiel nodded, "As the Key, Dawn is already a vessel. From what I have learned, Dawn's human body was created by an order of Monks using Buffy's blood and essence. She is essentially, the perfect vessel to a higher being," He explained.

"And why not any other Slayers? They are just as strong as Buffy." Sam asked.

"The other Slayers, while seemingly the same as Buffy, are not. Until Buffy dies, she is the original and only Slayer, as far as mysticism is concerned. Any spell, incantation or ritual needing the Slayer would only be able to use Buffy."

Buffy laughed bitterly, "lucky me."

She stood up and started pacing the room. "okay, Lucifer has my sister, and I need to get her back." Turning to Sam and Dean, "What's the plan?"

"Plan?" Dean asked roughly, finally looking at Buffy, "there's no plan here, sweetheart. You've got your information, now go on your merry way."

Everyone in the room stilled after Dean's harsh words.

"That's it?" Buffy stuttered out in shock.

"Yeah, that's it," he replied bluntly.

"How can you say that to me?" she asked, on the verge of tears.

"Easily. I didn't come looking for you for a reason, Buffy," Dean braced himself, "You make me weak."

Buffy sucked in a breath, "I've done nothing but protect and help you."

"And look where that got me? Dead!"

"How could you possibly blame that on me?" Buffy screamed in response.

"I am not blaming you," he replied calmly, "but maybe if you weren't around to distract me, I would have survived, and Sammy never would have gotten into this mess."

"Dean-" Sam said in shock, not believing his brother could say this to a woman he knew his bother loved.

"No, Sam, we did what we came to do, let's get out of here."

"Dean, wait," Buffy started.

"No! Don't you get it? I don't want you around! If we find anything out about Dawn, we'll contact the institute." He finished, as he left the room.

Sam looked apologetically at the girls, before leaving the room.

Buffy sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the closed door in shock.

"Did he ever love me?" She asked aloud, in a croaked voice.

"What the hell was that?!" Sam practically screamed once they were on the road.

"She was out, Sam. She was safe."

"So, what? You decided to crush her like that? Like she was nothing? I know you didn't mean any of that shit you said."

"Maybe I didn't!" Dean yelled back, "but when this shit is all done and dealt with, Buffy can go back to New York, have a nice life and forget I ever existed." He finished desperately.

"I don't think anyone could ever forget what you two had," Sam replied meekly, trying to get his brother to see reason.

"Just quit it, Sammy, it's done." Sam could practically hear the begging in his brother's voice.

"Yeah, whatever. Where we going?"

"I'm tired as hell, just going to find someplace to sleep and settle in for the night."

Within an hour, the impala had pulled into a dingy old hotel appropriately named the Century Hotel.

The boys walked up to the hotel, before being stopped by a man in religious garb.

"Excuse me, friend, but have you taken time out to think about God's plan for you?"

Dean stopped to look at him while replying, "too friggin' much, pal," before heading inside the reception room.

Dean lay in bed for hours trying to get to sleep, but every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Buffy the last time he saw her. Her face was white with shock, her face wet with tears and her eyes red from crying.

He knew he did the right thing, in the long run. He may have been brought back this time, but in this line of work, it was only time before some beasty got him. All he could do was protect Buffy from the same fate.

After hours of trying to sleep, Dean's eyes closed themselves and the sleep that had been escaping him quickly took over.

Dean woke slowly, pulling himself up from the springs of the hotel bed.

"Where'd my mattress go?" Dean asked himself groggily.

He removed himself and looked around the room to find it trashed. "Sammy?" he asked, now fully awake.

"Sammy!" Dean yelled, unsuccessfully searching the room for his younger brother.

Dean charged out of the room to find the streets abandoned. The buildings and streets were devastated, with broken windows, burnt out cars, and trash covering the surroundings.

Dean walked around the streets, trying to find anyone to explain what was going on. He walked for what seemed like hours before hearing the sound of glass smashing. Following the sound, Dean ran up an alley to find a little girl wrapped around her teddy.

Slowing down, Dean approached the girl carefully, "Little girl?"

She made no sound or movement as he approached, "are you hurt?" he asked, with no response.

"You know the not-talking thing is kind of creepy, right?"

Dean stopped just before the girl, finally getting her attention. She raised her head to look at him, blood dripping down her face. With a shriek the girl leaped at Dean, trying to stab him with a shard of glass that had been hidden by the teddy.

Reacting quickly, Dean grabbed her, smashing the girl against the brick wall beside them. Directly beside them, spray painted to the brick, was the word 'CROATOAN''.

"Oh crap."