Sunlight was just beginning to spill onto the streets on a brisk, London morning. Turning the wheel of her car, she maneuvered into the morning traffic, taking in the sights and sounds of her city. The chatter on her radio drew her attention as she called in her status before continuing on, the large building she called headquarters looming into view. After a quick walk-through in the crowded corridors, she made her way back out into the morning. But no morning was complete without caffeine. She waved to a pair of officers before climbing back into the right side of her car and continuing on. Most of the roads were jammed by this hour, but it didn't bother her. Hazel eyes narrowed as she observed the area, watching and waiting for any morning lawbreakers. Finding none, she eventually made her way to her favorite coffee shop.

She had been slightly proud to have remembered this coffee place without anyone telling her about it. Though close to the district her patrol frequented, it was far enough away to warrant a visit every few days. Parking her car into a tight slot, she got out and smiled at the hazy sunshine warning her entire body. Placing her sunglasses on, she marched into the crowded shop.

One side was devoted completely to relaxation, she saw. A dozen armchairs and sofas were arranged around a set of low tables with antique lamps. Newspapers and magazines in a half dozen languages were scattered on a counter near the front area where the coffee bar was located. Buffy moved into line and held her tongue until at least she reached the front, not bothering to acknowledge the slightly wary looks she received because of her uniform.

A young man working the counter glanced up when he saw her standing there, scanning the menu with her sunglasses obscuring her eyes. "May I help you, officer?"

A sudden figure appeared next to him, nudging the man out of the way with a hip. "Why don't you take the back, Pete? I got this covered."

The young man turned to her, dark eyes flashing behind tortoise-shell glasses. "Excuse me?"

The woman nodded to the officer and he shrugged, slinking towards the back. The woman sighed, shook her head and turned to Buffy, who was slowly removing her glasses, eyeing the young woman with curiosity. "Thank God we got rid of him… he's a bit wet behind the ears," she confided in a quiet voice, leaning across the counter towards Buffy. "So, how you been, Ellie?"

"Not too bad," Buffy replied, smiling blandly as she still couldn't figure out how she knew this woman. Her eyes were drawn to a necklace that had popped out of the woman's top as she had leaned across the counter. Shaking her head to clear it, she glanced back at the menu. "I'll have a—"

"Double caramel latte with a double shot," the woman automatically replied. Shaking back her hair, Buffy could see that her nametag read 'Dell'. "I got it. You haven't changed your standing caffeine addiction in two years. I doubt even Mr. So-Hot-He-Can-Have-Everything can change that."

"Oh…kay?" Buffy asked lightly as she stepped to the side, opening the wallet she'd unhooked from her belt. "Yeah, that sounds good."

"I hope it does, because it's my specialty, Elle. Don't tell me you forgot about that?"

"Oh, no," Buffy said in a hurried tone. "I haven't forgotten everything, just…"

"You have no clue who I am, do you?" Dell asked with a sigh. "I'm not expecting miracles, I guess. You took a bad fall. They tend to mess with your head. So… you set a date yet?"

"Um, yeah," Buffy said, watching as the woman worked the espresso machine with a flourish. Pete, casting Dell a dark look, took back to the counter, his long, lank red curls nearly obscuring his vision. "We set it for May."

Dell nearly dropped the strainer she was emptying. "So soon?"

"I guess I wanted it to happen before I'm either shot again or imprisoned for contempt," Buffy said humorlessly, causing Dell to smile delicately.

"Well, Robbie and I were gonna wait for junior here," she said, turning slightly. It was then that Buffy caught sight of the protruding stomach over Dell's shiny black pants. "Oh, don't worry. I'm sure you and Mr. Personality will be having buckets of these once you get your inner-feminine on."

"Uh-huh," was all Buffy could think of to say.

"Even though you ditched us for him, you do need to know that we support you," Dell said a moment later as the espresso machine began to tremble and steam. Buffy stared warily at it for a moment before turning back to Dell. "You're our friend. He isn't. Simple as that. Oh, sometimes I wish you'd stayed with—" She immediately cut herself off and looked down, a slight flush appearing on her pale cheeks. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Buffy sighed, shaking her head. "I still have no idea what you're talking about."

Dell chuckled out loud, tossing her dark curls over her shoulder. "You have no idea how lucky you are to forget all that shit."

"I don't feel very lucky at all," Buffy said, very quietly.

"And sometimes I think my foot lives inside my mouth," Dell said apologetically, finishing up the drink and setting it on the counter. After a moment, she leaned forward. "Is Pete behind me?" When Buffy shook her head, she gestured Buffy over to the other end of the counter where mouthwatering pastries were lines behind glass-enclosed cases. A single plate sat on top of the warming unit covering by a shiny cover. "Here, take a blueberry," she said, snatching a napkin and handing it across the glass to Buffy. "They're ten minutes out of the oven. Don't even think about paying for it."

Buffy took a piping hot blueberry scone and her coffee, stepping back. "Thank you."

"If you need anything, ever, you know where to go, right?" Dell asked sharply.

"I won't forget," Buffy smirked, setting her coffee and scone down to pull her glasses over her eyes again. "Thanks for the scone. And I love the necklace."

As she left, she heard Dell commenting behind her, "I don't know about that head of hers, but you can't deny her sense of style has gone anywhere."

x-o-o-x

Chapter 15

Save Me Tonight

x-o-o-x

"Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change,
taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next."

- Gilda Radner

x-o-o-x

Warning: Actual violence, implied violence and language ahead.

x-o-o-x

It was quite difficult to maneuver the jammed sidewalks and cram a scone into her mouth, but Buffy was one who could do it successfully while maintaining an officer-like appearance, anyway. She was just swallowing the last bit of scone and throwing the paper into the rubbish bin when she heard a voice calling her name behind her. Taking a gulp of hot coffee to take away the last of the scone, she turned to face the person calling her name.

"Hi," a voice said as a figure slipped between two people and stopped at the rubbish bin where Buffy was standing, staring up at him. "Are you all right?"

"Oh, I'm fine," she said, forcing herself to look down as she felt the flush creep up her neck. "Just… look at you, looking so… so…"

"It's good to see you, too," Oliver Wood said, moving around the rubbish bin to pull her into an easy hug. She found herself rejecting his touch before she stepped into it. Conflicting thoughts filled her mind but the one that overpowered her was want. She wanted to be in his arms, like it was the most familiar feeling in the world. Clearing her throat, she stepped out of his embrace, planting a smile on her face and gazing up at him.

"Sorry… I guess old habits die hard," Oliver said softly.

Buffy's eyes closed against her will as she felt the guilt start. After trying to push it down, she shrugged. "I guess," she murmured.

"You look good," he replied. "I mean, you were born to wear that uniform."

Buffy started laughing; a refreshing sound that filled her ears so much so she drank her coffee to stop herself from bawling. A moment later, she gasped out as the hot fluid stung her throat. Coughing, she set the coffee aside and pounded on her chest, her head spinning. "Oi, stupid girl," she muttered at herself, doubling over.

She felt him draw nearer, felt his hand on her back. It felt so familiar she couldn't help but moan, raising enough to turn into him. Her hand reached out to touch his blazer before she regretfully stepped away. "I'm sorry," she said quickly, wiping her eyes behind her glasses.

"Ellie, I should be sorry," Oliver said. He was at her side again. "It's just… it shouldn't have to be like this."

"This is what it is, Oliver," she said nervously, taking another step away from him. "You've got to stay away from me."

"Why?" he asked curiously, stepping down from the curb as she rounded the front of her patrol squad. "It didn't stop you before."

"Things changed, Oliver. I'm an engaged woman now. We're getting married." Her heart sank at the look of intense pain that crossed his face. His blue eyes that held so much compassion had filled with tears and looked away. For a moment, they were frozen in a tragic moment, one where she was rejecting him again. "I'm sorry."

"What happened between us, Ellie? You used to be so free, so happy, so… ready for a moment. Why… why did you change so much?"

"Because I grew up," Elise said, opening the door and glancing back at him. "I moved on."

Oliver stared at her for a moment, his eyes swimming before he shrugged and turned away. "You're not the person I thought you were."

"Then who am I?" she found herself shouting at his retreating back.

"You're the future wife of future politician, Cedric Diggory," he replied back in a loud voice.

"Are you so sure about that?" she asked in reply.

His eyes narrowed for a moment before he slowly walked back to where she was standing in the doorway of her vehicle. "Three years ago, I thought we would be together forever," he said quietly, his hand reaching out to remove the sunglasses from her face. Stunned hazel eyes were gazing at him as he handed her the glasses. "But we were living a fantasy. Or, rather, I was living a dream but you were living in hell. When he walked into your life, things that mattered to you before didn't mean anything to you anymore. Your friends and your family became obsolete. I wish I could say it kinder, but forgive me for not wanting to have my still-beating heart ripped out of my chest again."

"I hurt you," she realized with a pang. At seeing the emotions spread across his face, she resisted the urge to touch him, to comfort him. All she wanted to do was make that hurt go away, but to do so would be something the future Mrs. Cedric Diggory could never do.

"You were my hero," Oliver finally said, his eyes meetings hers. "I was so proud of you when you put that uniform on for the first time. What would happen to you if your hero disappointed you? I loved you more than I've loved anything in this world and you threw it all away to be with him. I don't really need an explanation. But after three years, I thought we could put the past behind us. I thought we could be friends again."

"I…" For a moment, words failed her. "I can't."

He blinked before turning away. "I understand."

"Please don't," she begged him.

"Why not?"

"Because if you understand, I feel pity. I don't want to hate myself for hurting you."

"Funny," he said coldly, "because you really did enjoy throwing your relationship and your new life in my face time and time again."

"I'm… I'm sorry."

"You know what? Just go… you're on the clock, aren't you?" he asked sharply. At seeing her miserable look, he felt his own guilt overwhelm him as he sighed, spreading his arms apart. "You don't want me as a part of your life? Fine… that I can live with."

"Do you want to know what it is I feel when I see you?" she asked, coming up beside him. "It's so familiar, so welcome, so warm that I just… I remember for a moment that something in my life was pure and happy and I was loved. I don't feel trapped or lost or confused or… I need you not to be here because if you're here, I might make the hugest mistake of my life."

"Elise…"

"No," she said, pushing his hands away as she stormed back to her vehicle. "No." A moment later, she turned back to face him. "If you want to know if I still have feelings for you, my answer is yes." At seeing the look of surprise on his face, she sighed exasperatedly and got back into her vehicle. As she moved to close the door, his arm stopped her progress.

"If you wanted to know if I still had feelings for you," Oliver said, his face just inches from hers, "I would have to say I don't think I could stop having these feelings for you."

"Let me go," she pleaded with him, not wanting to meet his eyes again. "People are watching."

"Yes," he said in a voice of mock cheer, leaning out of the vehicle and slamming the door shut next to her. "Your public is always watching you, Potter. I guess you'd best appease them."

As she reversed her vehicle out of the spot, she felt her body start to convulse. She closed her eyes a moment. Inside, she felt as though a battle was being waged. One was Elise Potter, the cop and fiancé of Cedric Diggory, one of the most respected young men in the political fields. The other part of her remembered a past life with her friends before she was involved with a high-profile crime organization that threatened to destroy the fragile balance of her life.

Part of her wished she could just forget the career and go back to what she knew and loved. But the other half of her realized that she had moved on with Cedric and that the woman inside of her was ready to marry him. Cedric was many things to her, but was he ever proud of her? Oliver had been… he had called her his hero. It was a touching compliment; one only bested by Sirius Black whose life she had saved.

Shaking the confusing thoughts from her mind, she blinked at her radio and quickly called in her status. Even as she drove, answering calls and driving in circles, her mind was perfectly set at bliss. She had to stop thinking about the old life and learn to live with her new one. She couldn't help the fact that she was different than she had been before she was shot. Maybe she was going soft. Maybe she needed to step up and prove there was still a bit of hero left inside of her.

A voice rang out over her radio, taking her attention. Buffy answered the call and turned her vehicle towards the central part of her area. The call was for a security alarm in one of the old government buildings. As she was the closest in the area, she took the call.

"Call if you need assistance," a voice crackled over the radio.

"No problem," Buffy hissed under her breath, turning the corner. The building loomed in the distance. Pulling into a slot near the parking area, she slid from her seat, staring at the building looming before her. It was a routine call, she knew. But there was something almost eerie in the air, as though something evil was lurking unseen. She moved briskly across the street towards the steps of the older building, not missing the sight of Tower 42 behind it.

For a morning in the middle of the week, it seemed quiet. The door opened and closed behind her, the sound echoing through the lobby area. She glanced to the bank entrance but found it dark. She moved curiously to the doors and peered inside but no one seemed to be moving around. She listened for the sound of voices, straining to hear even the sound of someone coughing.

She didn't hear it.

"Odd," she muttered under her breath, pulling out her radio. "This is five-sixty E. Potter," she spoke as she made her way to one of the staircases. With a grand staircase, it divided into two a half level up and swept in a glorious half-circle to the second level. In between the two rotating rotundas was a teardrop-shaped chandelier boasting over a thousand miniature crystal lights. It was one of the things she admired most about this old building down in the financial center of London.

"Go ahead."

Buffy frowned at her radio before doling out her concerns. "Building seems to be abandoned. Can't find the source of the alarm, over."

"The alarm was coming from the offices on the third floor, Potter," the voice replied.

"There's no activity down here, command," Buffy continued as though she hadn't heard the dispatcher on the other end. "The bank area looks deserted. It's all dark." Once again she found herself facing the glass windows overlooking the lobby. Still the bank remained dark, each station thrown into blackness by the lack of interior lighting within. Just the sight of seeing something out of the ordinary was throwing her intuition into a tailspin. "Please advise."

She heard voices talking in the background as another call sounded. As she was about to make the request again, she heard a sharp sound above her. Lowering the radio, she moved backwards lightly, her feet tapping on the ground, her eyes drawn to the second level. A single shadow faded from the wall, disappearing completely. Blinking, she made up her mind and drew out her sidearm. Step by step she made her way up to the second level, never letting her guard down once. Again she was greeted by a silence as eerie as the beginning. She heard voices talking to her from her radio, but she wasn't paying attention. Every step she made was giving her the distinct impression that she shouldn't be here.

On the second level, she discovered why.

"Crap," she muttered, moving to a figure lying on his side. He was a portly man in a security guard's uniform. There was slight reddening on his neck and face, but his hands and feet were tied together. All at once she realized that someone was wrong.

"This is five sixty," she said clearly into her radio. "I have a security guard down. He's unconscious and unresponsive. I request backup units to respond along with medical."

"Backup units dispatched. Medical will be there in six minutes, Potter."

She was barely listening. Her eyes were drawn to another shadow on the far wall. She swallowed hard before lifting the radio to her lips. "I suggest you hurry," she replied before rising and following the shadow. She found herself at another staircase as the shadow slid up the last few steps and out of sight. Cursing her speed, she made her way to the third level. The only sounds she heard were from the street outside. Brilliant sunlight streamed in from large windows, affording a perfect view of the newer constructs around the old district. She stared outside for a moment, allowing her eyes to adjust to the bright light. Just as she was about to move away, she heard another sound down the corridor. Jumping slightly, she held her sidearm and began the slow pace down. She wasn't going to let her guard down. Not even for a second.

Drawing slowly with all the grace of a ballerina, she moved. She kept her eyes swinging instinctively right to left. Her breathing was labored; her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She half-wondered where her backup was considering that something seemed out of place here. Something was terribly wrong and now she was caught up in it.

She turned the corner, facing a set of double doors at the end of the hall. What surprised her was that there seemed to be something on the floor. She moved forward, bending down. Her fingers lightly traced the smears on the floor before she realized, with a sinking sensation, that there were blood trails leading to that room. She got to her feet, preparing to return to the first floor to await backup when a soft click sounded in her left ear.

"Well, well." Buffy felt as though icy fingers of dread were racing down her spine. Then she realized that something was sliding down her spine towards her hips. She found her body perfectly still and, when she felt the pressure release, slowly turned to face her worst nightmare. A tall man in a long, black coat stood there. He held a larger weapon in his hand that he slowly lowered as silvery eyes bored into Buffy's. She felt as though she couldn't breathe. His eyes then dropped to the sidearm held protectively at her side. "Never thought I'd see this day."

"What is this?" she whispered. Hearing footsteps shuffle behind her, she whirled around to see a smaller man in a grey suit standing there with the same type of firearm in his hands. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm afraid it's sorely business," the man said, moving forward to block her exit down the wide corridor. "Although I'm surprised you would come to the rescue on your lonesome."

"Who said anything about rescue?" she asked, barely able to choke the words out. She heard the portly man behind her splutter with laughter until a look from the deadly eyes of the taller man silenced him.

"Lucius, we need to get her inside. It's dangerous to have her outside."

"She's just dangerous to begin with," he said, slowly advancing on Buffy who, for all her training, couldn't seem to move. "You little firecracker… I always knew you'd come in to save the day." A dark light seemed to flash before his eyes as he touched her face with a leather-gloved hand, his eyes slowly checking her up and down. She just stared at him, unwilling to move.

"She's on duty," the portly man said, pulling the radio off of her hip. His eyes lit up when he saw the handcuffs carefully tethered away.

"Hmm… I guess you'll be going off the record then," Lucius said, handing his firearm to the portly man who managed to juggle two weapons that seemed much too large for his stature. "Now, I'll need to have that firearm of yours just so no one worth anything gets hurt." At seeing the determined streak in her eyes, his lips quivered into a smile that didn't reach the seriousness in his eyes. "I'm afraid I'll have to insist."

She heard another click behind her and knew that the portly man had his weapon trained on her. Despite everything she had been taught and trained, she had to believe that trusting this man not to kill her would be the proper thing to do. Without further hesitation, she handed him the firearm.

"See, Peter, she can be pragmatic," Lucius said, his fingers sliding over the weapon as though it were a mere toy. "However, what I think our young friend doesn't realize is that she wasn't invited to our party."

Buffy gasped and turned to Peter, who had a slow, evil smile that grew on his face. Turning back to Lucius and preparing to beg for her life seemed like the last thing that she would ever do. He simply grasped the weapon, lifted it and fired once.

x-o-x

All along the street squads were parking, officers converging on the main entrance. The street was still in shadow from the light, casting darker silhouettes along the eaves of the buildings. Lily Potter moved with the grace of a lioness, her eyes staring at the building her daughter had been sent to. It had been more than five minutes since that last call for help.

Suddenly a gunshot echoed loudly through the streets, followed by a scream.

"Elise?" Lily gasped, feeling as though everything was circling around her as she turned to the older, brick structure. "Elise!"

She felt James come up and throw his arm out to block her progress. "Lily, no!"

But she knew her daughter was inside. Her intuition was screaming at her that Elise was the one in danger, not some innocent person. She felt her partner tugging on her arm and gave up the fight, staring hopelessly at the building, knowing that her eldest daughter was trapped inside.

x-o-x

"You stupid son of a—"

"Language, Potter," Lucius said, a mad gleam in his eye as he glanced at the woman who had fallen to the floor in front of him. As she glanced up, he saw her hazel eyes were full of pain. His fingers reached forward to clasp her jaw, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Peter, put her with the others."

"Right," Peter said, unable to stop his own grin as he reached down and grabbed the younger woman by the hair. She moaned as she was ripped to her feet, stumbling and nearly falling again. Arms tightened around her chest, dragging her to the double doors, a long streak of red left behind by the shot. She could barely walk and yet it had just been a shot to her knee.

Lucius moved to the radar on the ground. Flecks of blood had sprayed across it. He supposed he had been acting silly, just shooting the girl without a reason at all. But this would teach her to mess with them. Taking an envelope from his pocket, he taped it to the radio and turned to the windows. Down below he could see there were other officers gathering like maggots, ready to storm the building.

He'd show them.

He drew his arm and added force behind it. The radio smashed through the window, raining bits of glass onto the street below. He heard voices of alarm and the sound of people running. Moments later, he saw a curious few approaching the object on the ground as though it were a bomb.

Satisfied for the moment, he turned back, ready to set an example of his young apprentice.

With all of the grace of a thundering elephant, Peter pushed into the room, shoving Buffy onto the floor. The woman moaned even as she heard gasps and the sounds of muffled sobs. Lifting her head, she saw that the entire back wall consisted of women who had been bound and gagged, staring at her with passionate, terrified eyes. She wanted to reassure them, but it was difficult, especially with Peter waving his gun around and laughing. Moments later, she felt those sticky fingers grasping her hair as her body lifted painfully. She collided with a wall, tears springing to her eyes as she fell again to the floor. Twisting her body to better support her wounded leg, she glared up at the man who simply smirked at her, stroking his weapon with the simple message he would kill her if provoked.

"Well, this was certainly unexpected."

Buffy eyed a tall, dark-haired beauty as she strode into the room. Dressed in civilian attire, she appeared haughty and inconspicuous given Peter's grey suit and Lucius's all-black apparel.

"We had to take her in," Lucius told the woman apologetically, handing her the officer's sidearm. The woman's lips twisted into a painful smile as she lifted the weapon.

"That doesn't mean you had to shoot her," she said quietly. Seconds later, the women all gasped behind their gags as she turned on the man, backhanding him so hard that he stumbled and fell backwards into the doors that Peter was trying to nail shut. Clearing her throat, she tossed the weapon aside and moved to where Buffy was leaning on the floor, trying to keep from passing out. "Hi, Elise. Long time, no see." Soft fingers reached down to take her hand. She seemed to think better of it, though, and went for her throat instead. Buffy found herself gasping as the woman dragged her to her knees. "But you should have kept your no-good brown-nosing cop's nose out of it. Because now, little girl, you're going to pay for the deception."

"What?" Buffy managed to choke out.

"God, no!" a voice cried from the other end of the room. The woman turned, her dark eyes sending a sharp glare to two other men guarding the other exits. The woman had managed to wear her gag down to her chin. In that instant, Buffy realized she was looking at Cedric's mother. "Leave her alone!"

"What did I tell you people would happen if you spoke out of turn?" the woman asked, glaring at one of the men. He stepped forward, raising his weapon to strike the woman who stared back at the dark-haired one, no hint of fear in her eyes.

"Don't hurt her," a voice begged beneath her. The dark-haired woman turned and saw the blonde she was throttling staring at her, compassion burning brightly in her hazel eyes. "Please, don't hurt her."

The woman stared at her a moment before throwing the woman back into the wall. Buffy gasped for breath and massaged her throat with blood-caked hands. "Guard!" the woman shrieked. The man strode towards her, holding a nightstick in his hands.

"Bella," he acknowledged quietly.

Without permission she seized the weapon and turned to the blonde on the floor. "Have I ever told you what I'd do to little blondes who didn't play nice anymore?"

"Have I ever told you to go screw yourself?" Buffy challenged.

The woman laughed; a cold harsh sound despite her arrogant features. The sound instantly disappeared as she brought the weapon down, striking the woman on the back of the neck. She heard the woman scream behind her, but she didn't care. The body bounced on the floor. Kicking Potter's body over onto her back, she bent down and smashed the cold metal into the woman's abdomen and rose back up, watching as the woman writhed and moaned on the floor in front of her. Handing the weapon back to the guard, she turned compassionless eyes to the woman who stared at her defiantly with no uncertain amount of disgust flashing in her dark eyes.

"Denise, is it?" she asked quietly, advancing on the woman as though she were prey. "See, the whole advantage to you being my prisoner means that when you get hit, and you will get hit, that means you die. When we start beating on our own, it means she gets to live. To trade that, well, I could kill her…" A nasty smile spread across her face as dumbstruck horror filled the other woman's expression. "But I don't want to. Yet."

"Denise…"

Mrs. Diggory closed her eyes, trying to block out the pained gasps and the small voice calling her name. This was the same woman she was proud to soon call her daughter-in-law.

"Besides, don't you think the truth can really set you free?" Bella asked, almost skipping back to the woman. Buffy had managed to pull herself up. Trickles of blood worked their way across her face from where she'd been hit. Blood flowed from the wound to her leg. But the thing that hadn't changed was the sharp glare that met her own eyes. "You know, Ellie," she said, getting down to her knees and leaning closer, her lips brushing against the younger woman's ear, "you could really do well for yourself. You've always wanted to be part of something… bigger… than that little freak show you call a daily job. If you make it through this, you might even get promoted… to Peter's place."

The portly man spun around from where he had been barricading the door. "What?"

"But the thing is, you have to really want it," Bella whispered seductively, pulling back. Her icy hands met Buffy's flushed face, her fingertips wiping away pained tears. Her eyes blinked as her face drew closer to the younger woman's. "You have to want bad enough to take it. That means getting rid of the old and taking in the new." Her lips curved upwards as her fingertips moved over bruised skin. Finding the mark she was looking for, she pressed hard on the pressure points, causing the woman to cry out. As she moved to protect herself, Bella laughed as she staggered back to her feet. Her eyes turned to her audience who stared, captivated. Denise Diggory sat against the wall, her hands bound over her bent knees, staring transfixed at the exchange.

"Elise, do you know her?" Denise asked in an agonized whisper.

Bella's eyes danced as she glanced down at the wounded woman, a long scarlet nail suddenly pointing at the figure that froze and became rigid, guilt filling every line in her face. "Your public wants to know, dear Liza," she cackled.

Elise took in the frightened looks from the other women; Denise's included, and made herself promise that no matter what happened the truth would never be free. Lucius or Bella could reveal it, but the truth wouldn't stand until she spoke it. Shaking her head, she met Bella's eyes and whispered, "Never."

Bella let out a shriek of rage and darted across the room. Seizing the firearm Peter was now recovering, she aimed it back to the blonde. "The truth."

The corner of Buffy's mouth lifted up as mocking eyes met psychotic. "You'll have to kill me, first."

The safety clicked off as Bella lifted her aim. "Not a problem, girl."

x-o-x

Two dozen officers milled around a single van where Sergeant McGonagall and their staff Lieutenant Albin stood waiting for news from their special operations team. "Ten minutes," Sergeant McGonagall announced to the group at whole before tucking herself back into the safety of their command vehicle. Moments later, Lily Potter appeared red-faced and breathless. "You got something, Potter?"

"I want to be on the line."

Sergeant McGonagall glanced up, cold emerald eyes matching a set of eyes that held more depth and warmth than their own. "I can't risk you, Potter."

"But you'll put my husband on the line?" Lily asked in disbelief. "I don't think so. I've got the seniority; I should be on the line."

"She has a point, Minnie," the Lieutenant said, throwing down his glasses and flinging his hands up impatiently. "She's got the skills."

"It's far too dangerous," the Sergeant replied sharply, sending the older man a dark, patronizing look. "You saw the letter. If anyone breaches the doors, they'll start killing off hostages. That I won't take to. If we even attempt to rescue her, they'll kill her." Eyes lit up as James appeared over Lily's shoulder, his eyes wearing a slightly hazed look. "Get out of here. I'll put my own teams together, thanks."

Lily sniffed and walked out, her back rigid with dignity. As she left, James turned to Sergeant McGonagall. His tone was low and accusing. "It's them, isn't it?"

"As far as we know, yes," Sergeant McGonagall whispered in a deadened voice.

"You knew this was going to happen. You were just waiting for it to happen."

"I thought I told you to keep the truth to yourself," the Sergeant spat out, rising and facing him. Despite the fact she was a few inches shorter than him, she more than made up for it with her glower. "Now get outside and act like a man, James. Don't come in here making demands that you know I can't answer to. Give me ten minutes and then we'll come up with something." As he hesitated, her eyes grew more impatient. "I gave you an order, Detective. Now go, dismissed!"

x-o-x

The seconds seemed to tick by, one by one. Each minute was secured in eternity. Hazy eyes blurred with pain stared at the faces peering down at her with concern. After refusing to comply and tell the others the truth about why she knew them, Bella had taken one shot, firing at her abdomen. The bitch had known exactly where to hit her. She felt a cold hand pressed down over the wound but couldn't hide the pain. She had let Peter take a turn then. The women against the wall had closed their eyes and willed the sounds away as the young officer shrieked. Peter had been cold but resolute with her, throwing her around until, at last, she had passed out. Maybe it was because he had smashed her head into a cabinet where the fire extinguisher was kept. As she was unconscious, Peter had flung her unceremoniously into their waiting arms. After freeing her hands, Denise had taken Elise under her protection, almost daring to believe that what Elise was doing she was doing for them.

Bella kept pacing the room, her muttering becoming more and more erratic. Lucius sat on a black leather chair looking rather amused at the proceedings. Peter wore a feral grin that made half of the women nauseous especially considering the way he had treated poor Elise. The two guards walked back and forth, their cold eyes letting them know in no uncertain terms if they attempted to get help they would suffer the punishment.

The ticking sounds came back to her as she felt her head roll around in a comforting lap. Soft hands moved over her face. A gentle slap opened her eyes which focused wearily on the face hovering a foot above hers.

"She's alive."

Bella stopped her pacing, her features alive with a dangerous, near demonic glow. "Let her go."

"She won't play these games with you," Denise said, hugging the younger woman to her protectively. "I promise we won't testify in court, but torturing an officer of the law is—"

The glass panel over her head suddenly exploded; the women around her screamed as they covered their heads, glass raining down upon them. Lucius slowly lowered his own firearm, setting a glass aside. Exchanging a cold look with the smirking Bella, he made his way over to the group of women clustered protectively around the younger one. "Move."

When Denise refused his request, she found herself with a sidearm aimed between the eyes. The women around her moaned, begging her to step back. But Denise stared into Lucius's cold grey eyes, her jaw set and determined. "Screw you."

"Perhaps," he said humorlessly. He turned to leave but his movements were quick and graceful. Moments later, Denise was on her back clutching her face as Buffy was once again dragged away from her by her injured leg. Her screams of pain filled the small room as Denise sat up, gasping, "You stupid son of a bitch, let her go!"

"I don't think so," he said, yanking the wounded woman to his side and looking down at her, as though undressing her with his eyes. "Obviously she feels she can withstand whatever we give her in kindness."

"If you touch her again, I'll kill you," Denise hissed, struggling against the other women holding her back.

"Hmm," Lucius said, silver eyes narrowing as he surveyed the woman struggling to get away from him. A seductive hand smoothed blood-tainted hair from her face. Bella watched the exchange, fascinated. Peter's eager grin was swallowing his face. "I suppose that means I probably should not have touched her before."

Denise gasped as Buffy took a step away from him, desperate to get away from these lecherous men. But the hand caught the back of her hair as he bent down, his face hovering inches above hers. Though she glared up at him with as much fire as she could muster, she could feel her injured leg giving away. She felt blood oozing from the gunshot to her side. His hand tightened as his lips made contact with the skin along her neck. Pure ice touched her, seeping in her veins as she used the one defense she had left. Lifting her uninjured leg, she jammed it into the man's pelvis. He cursed and flung her back, Buffy's body falling heavily to the floor. Denise's eyes wore a triumphant look and even the injured woman started laughing mockingly at them as Lucius stumbled backwards. Bella roared and stormed towards the woman, her hands raised in the air.

"You will pay for that one, killer," Bella said wickedly, slapping the girl across the face. Derisive eyes stared back at her. Stepping back, the two guards appeared over her shoulder. "Give it to her," she whispered sweetly, seeing the glare deepen. "Tell her that she's not the one that gives orders around here."

Denise could only helplessly watch as the two men attacked the young officer. She turned her face away, hot tears rolling down her cheeks. Her only saving grace was that her son wasn't there to witness his fiancée's torture.

"Stop!"

Denise gasped and turned towards the young woman. The two men were drawing back, looking disappointed.

"You want the truth?" a voice rasped out. She saw Buffy pulling herself up despite being shot and beaten. Her bloodied face held no love for these people as she eyed them, deepest hatred flashing from eyes that shone with fire. "I'll tell them the fucking truth."

How could she ever think she could survive this? These people were monsters! And her boss, for putting her there? What sort of twisted old bat was McGonagall? She would never forgive the old woman, never! If she lived to survive this, she could only imagine the pure delight at telling her lovely superiors to go piss themselves.

"Well, Potter?" Bella asked, lifting the sidearm and aiming it directly at her. "We're waiting."

x-o-x

As the teams stormed the building, silent footsteps rushed to the second level. Keeping her firearm trained above her, Lily Potter made her way to the next step. Her partner was a step below her on her hip, but her eyes never left the walk ahead of her. The officers fanned out, those carrying the larger weapons moving forward and signaling the normal street officers on. Lily and her partner Andy ran to one of the corridors and looked across. The remains of the window that had been shattered hours earlier remained with most of the glass littering the marble tile. Cocking her head on, Andy moved across and lifted her firearm, aiming it down the hall. She signaled Lily across and they headed on.

James and Sirius moved along towards the staircase leading to the third level. The first team that reached it was already halfway up, signaling for them to follow. Lily and Andy were next and soon four teams spilled onto the next level. The wide corridor ended with a set of double doors. There was a streak of blood on the floor in front of them and one near the doors themselves.

James made the motion for Lily and Andy to take the door to the right. They would take the back route, knowing there was another set of offices with a smaller room that was just off the main conference room. James and Sirius motioned for another team to take the straight angle. As more teams joined them, they all began moving forward.

Lily knew that her daughter was slipping away. She could hear Elise crying for her deep in her mind. She felt sickened, quite aware of what they were doing to her precious girl. If they survived it, Lily would force it back on them ten-fold. But she had to find her precious Elise first.

She had never felt more helpless than she did now.

x-o-x

Before Lucius could pull the trigger, Bella was back playing with her toy. He watched the other woman in irritation as she literally circled around the younger woman, her hands sliding down her narrow frame as mocking eyes ridiculed her. "She tastes like honey, doesn't she?" Bella asked Lucius with a wicked smile. The man was slow to hide the sneer that flickered on his face, especially at seeing the younger girl wince. "I wonder what your blood tastes like."

Buffy stared at the gun seconds away from ending her life. "They told me to help you," she said softly, enjoying the way her voice offset the normally unflappable man. She didn't care anymore whether or not she lived through this. She knew that she was dead anyway. It was time to go out with some finesse. "So I did. And I fed it all back to them. Did you really think this was about my loyalty to you? This was never about you. And you fall for it every single time!"

Lucius shouted out in his rage as he shot again.

This time, the bullet didn't miss its mark.

x-o-x

Lily was standing next to a sealed door when she heard the sound of another gunshot and women screaming. Unable to wait for the others to signal her, she smashed the door open with brute force, Andy tromping in behind her. The room was empty save a few bound and gagged hostages underneath a conference table. Andy turned as another team followed them in. "Get 'em out," she said, pushing the younger ones away. "Hurry!"

Lily moved to the next door which was unlocked. As she opened it, she found a snarling face on the other side. Closing the door slightly, she wedged it open, throwing the guard off-balance. As he staggered, she used her strength, kicking him across the chest and, when he landed on the ground, landing a blow to the back of his head to render him unconscious. Andy leapt over his prone form as more bodies seemed to peel from the woodwork. Lily noticed one of them immediately and stopped him, reaching up to remove his gag. "Cedric." He turned helpless eyes on her. She half-wondered if he knew that the woman being abused just sixty feet away was the woman he was about to spend the rest of his life with.

There was another banging sound and then she heard the barrage of gunfire. "Get down!" she told Cedric, pushing him away from the door. This one she kicked too and found herself inside another room. Eight women were crowded in a corner, sobbing. Two more had flung themselves over a pool of blood. At seeing a guard come towards her, Andy suddenly leapt out firing. James and Sirius were wrestling a second guard to the ground. A woman was lying on the ground as another office stood over her, his weapon drawn and aimed at the woman's head.

But Lily was distracted by the two women pulling themselves off of someone who was convulsing…

She heard James yelling her name but she found her legs moving to her daughter anyway. She heard her own scream of alarm and horror as she saw her daughter's blackened, bloodied face. "JAMES!" she shrieked, her voice rising in her angst. "James…"

"Officer down, officer down, I repeat we have an officer down. Request medical immediately, I repeat, we request medical immediately," Andy shouted into her own radio, staring down at Lily who was ripping off her jacket, shoving it underneath her daughter's head. Buffy's eyes were rolling in the back of her head. A thin stream of blood ran from her mouth. A tiny moan escaped from her lips as Lily shook her. She heard her mother yelling something, but she couldn't wrap her mind around the frantic words. Warm hands pressed against the gush of blood from her chest, but she could no longer feel any pain.

James and Sirius watched as Lily and Andy did what they could. Cedric, despite the fact an officer was trying to drag him out, appeared suddenly in the doorway. At seeing his mother's bloodstained clothing and her defeated expression, he had but to turn his head before…

"ELISE!!!"

James and Sirius both moved to stop Cedric, but the young man fought valiantly against them. Buffy's lips, though choking up blood, barely registered him with the slightest hint of a smile. "Ced…" she groaned once as she passed out, her head lolling to the side. Lily gave Andy an alarmed look as her partner got back on the radio, demanding to know where their medical unit was. As Cedric boldly fought, Lily gave the orders to have them all removed from the room.

Down on a street thrown towards darkness, a public waited. They had heard the building had come under duress. Their worst fears were confirmed as wailing sirens drew closer. A steady stream of bodies were exiting the building now, clutching blankets and wearing haunted expressions.

Minutes after the ambulance crew had gone inside, they came back out. A female officer was running beside the stretcher as one of the medics was shouting out statistics. Once the stretcher had cleared the stairs, the woman in the bloodstained clothing leapt onto the stretcher, straddling the patient.

Dell attempted to move closer, her eyes narrowed to the blinding spotlights shining up in the evening glow. She heard a gasp and saw another young woman lift a startled hand to her lips, her eyes paralyzed with shock. Dell turned her head to see the figure as she was pushed into the waiting vehicle. It was in this moment she caught sight of the blonde hair and recognized the officer being peeled from the stretcher.

"Oh, God," she moaned, pushing past the young woman and running to the front. Moments later, she heard the sound of a man yelling. She leapt out of the way as a young man raced towards the officer, his inaudible shouts mingling with her quiet replies. This was not the handsome young politician Dell knew about. Her lips curved into a sneer as she saw his wild expressions that gave her the distinct impression he was falling apart at the seams. His pants were wrinkled and his coat was unbuttoned, flapping open wide as he demanded to know where his lovely young fiancée was being taken.

"No," a soft voice murmured behind her. Dell turned and saw a young man step up to where the young woman was crying softly into her fist. Stunned blue eyes met her dark and she gave him a slight nod as he went to take care of his friend.

A surreal calm followed despite the fact there were hundreds of people gathered in the street and square.

x-o-x

Lily Potter knew that it was this moment that counted high above all others. She knew these moments would define her.

Many would speak of her character as being capable, determined and cautious. But the moment she had seen her defeated daughter, she had become another body entirely. Her sharp mind was focused on saving her baby girl's life.

The entire ride was agony. She knew that Elise was dying but her mind refused to accept it. She had lost too much blood. The shot to the chest may have hit her lungs which were slowly filling with fluid, ensuring her daughter a most painful death.

She closed her eyes against the alarm bells ringing in her head. Bloodied hands pressed into her eyes as she attempted to suppress her own moans. She heard her radio chirp as voices attempted to reach out for her, but she just let it sit there on the edge of the seat. She had no patience for them now.

As the doors opened, revealing a deepening London skyline and a darker sky ahead, Lily hopped down, helping the medics remove the stretcher. Even as the next few hours blurred together, she never lost focus on the one thing that mattered most to her.

"Lily?"

She was sitting in one of the waiting areas, a small area off of the intensive care unit. She reached an exhausted hand to her husband, who grasped it and hauled her to her feet. She welcomed the warmth of his arms as she buried her face in his shoulder. Her mind was too numb even for tears, too blank to even form words. She heard him murmuring into her neck but she couldn't process it.

"I sent Andy to get Harry and Dawn," James said, pulling away from her at last. As he did, he winced at Lily's appearance. She was in her t-shirt covered in blood. Dried blood was caked on her cheek and on her arms and hands, but she made no move to clean up. "I think the family should be together."

"I think I'm living in a nightmare," Lily said in a shaky voice. "Everything's the same."

"No, no, no," James said, rubbing her arms soothingly. "Lily, look at me. We are not going to lose her, not again."

"You don't know that," she whispered, pained.

"No, I don't know that," James said, watching the tears glisten in Lily's eyes as she looked away. "But I do know I have faith she can get herself through this."

"How in the hell is she supposed to get through this?" Lily asked, brushing angry tears away from her cheeks. "James, they tortured her. They mutilated her. They violated—" Before she could continue, he swept her into his arms, offering what little comfort he knew how to give. As she angrily slammed her fists into his back, he allowed himself to be her sounding board, someone that she could vent to in times of trouble.

"Excuse me, Detectives?"

Lily took a deep, shuddering breath as she pulled back from James, blinking into the sharp lights at their Sergeant marching in. "Sergeant McGonagall," James said, giving her a respective nod. The older woman sighed and leaned against the frame, folding her arms tightly against her chest.

"Have you any word?"

"Not since they took her into surgery," James replied. "That was almost three hours ago."

"Though you are both still on duty, I feel it futile to order you away from the premises," McGonagall said sternly, glancing at both officers. "But I do expect you to work in order to keep your minds occupied instead of focusing on the worst-case scenario. Now, Andromeda was sent to pick up your children?" At their nods, she continued. "Lily, there are two witnesses that still need to be questioned regarding today's events. As you are an interrogator, I trust your skills are still handy for us. James, they just brought the suspects into a protected ward to treat them for their injuries before they are brought to the prison." At these words, Lily took a dangerous step forward. James quickly pulled her back, glancing apologetically at Sergeant McGonagall who appeared that she hadn't noticed. "When they are released, you are to provide extra security for their safe transport off the premises."

"They don't need safe transport," Lily snarled. "Did you see what they did to my daughter?"

"Yes, Potter, I saw," McGonagall said quietly. "But these things must be done legally."

"I should have shot him myself," Lily said, yanking her arm from James' and glaring at her husband. Snatching her bag from the sofa, she stormed out of the room.

As she left, James felt McGonagall's eyes turn to ice. "If you do anything to endanger them…"

"I'm no fool," James uttered, feeling his own hazel eyes burn with suppressed emotion, "but how do you expect me to protect the same bastards who just attempted to murder my child?"

"Because it's your job, Potter," McGonagall said coldly. "It's what you do."

James sighed as he affirmed his orders, leaving the waiting area and heading off. Sympathetic eyes were on him wherever he walked. He knew that they were all thinking the exact same thing – their daughter, the newest star on the force and the pride of her parents – was going to die. And there was nothing he could do about it.

x-o-x

Lily had just returned to the sitting area when she heard a voice shout, "Mum!"

Lily turned to see Harry and Dawn walk in, followed by Andy. Mouthing a silent thanks to her friend and partner, she walked over and swept both of her younger children into her arms. "My babies," she moaned, pressing her cheek into her taller son's hair. "My beautiful, beautiful babies."

"Mum," Dawn moaned, pushing herself back. "Gross."

Attempting a smile, Lily smoothed her daughter's hair back and looked over at her son. "Did Andy tell you?"

"Tell us what?" Harry asked, confused. "We were just told to get to the hospital. Andy said it was some sort of emergency."

"It's your sister," Lily said, feeling her eyes drawn to the ground.

"Not again," Dawn moaned, running a hand through her hair. "If she keeps doing this, she's going to get herself into—"

"Dawn, shut up," Harry said, holding his hand up to stop Dawn in mid-rant. She stopped, her jaw snapping shut. Hurt eyes stared at her brother before drifting back to their mother. "What happened?"

"They…" Lily found she suddenly couldn't tell them. No innocent should ever have to learn what happened to her daughter. "She…"

"She was shot," a different voice said from the doorway. Sirius Black tucked inside the room. Lily's eyes turned distinctly colder as she eyed the other man. "Shot and tortured. All in a day's work for your sister, eh?"

"What?" Dawn and Harry gasped in unison.

Sirius turned his attention over to Lily. "They just took her out of surgery. I'll be standing guard over her till midnight. My replacement should be on duty by then."

"Thank you," Lily replied, giving him what she hoped would be a smile. She knew it was more of a grimace though as she looked away.

"Mom, that blood… is it hers?"

Lily nodded, not trusting herself to look at her son. Hearing the sudden intake of his breath, she felt his arms swept around her and allowed herself to wallow for a moment before he pulled away, only to be replaced by Dawn. James walked in on the touching scene, smiling at his wife and two younger children wrapped together in a hug that swelled with emotion. Blinking back tears, he looked out in the hallway where he was met by McGonagall's frosty gaze.

"Did they make it out?" she asked sharply.

James figured that she didn't know Lily was done with her statements and wasn't in the room. "I'm done. They're out. One… didn't make it. The other seven did."

"They'll be facing quite the predicament come morning," McGonagall said with satisfaction. "Your daughter played the exact role we wished her to within their organization."

"She…" James stammered, unable to believe what he was hearing. "You… you played her?"

"She knew what was involved, Potter," McGonagall said coolly. "She knew exactly what she was doing."

"The hell she did!" James spluttered. "For God's sake, Minerva, she was shot. And tortured and God only knows what else they did to her!"

"There is always risk involved," McGonagall replied, rising to her full stature and marching towards James, fire shining in her green eyes. "Don't you dare think that we didn't have her best intentions set. But she knew when she went in there that that group was trouble and she didn't refuse our request."

"How could she?" James asked blankly. "You had her cornered. She didn't have a choice!"

"There is always a choice, isn't there James? For example, you have a choice right now. We are not discussing this here in this public forum. If you do, your choice would be to hand me your badge and gun because I won't have loose lips on my force. You play by my rules or you get the hell out of my way." Giving him her chilliest look yet, McGonagall stormed down the corridor, leaving breathless medical staff in her wake.

James was still trying to wrap his mind around what idle threats his sergeant had just made when he walked back in the waiting area. He wasn't in there for more than a minute before something hard slammed against the side of his head. He realized then that Lily had just smacked him.

"You…"

Her turned and saw a gaze that could melt lava. His stomach churned at the fury etched in every line of her face. Her lips were twisted into such a vicious snarl that, for the first time, he felt afraid of his wife. "Lily, please…"

"You knew all along that she was working for them?" she asked, her voice rising to a feverish pitch. Before he could defend himself, she was smacking his arms, sending him backing to the wall. "You knew that she was risking her life just so we could catch them? That is our daughter!! You sacrificed our daughter's life for some petty thieves?"

"Lily, wait—"

"No, you wait," she shouted back, adding a slap to his chest for good measure. "You stupid, stupid man. How… how can you live with yourself knowing what you did?"

"What I did?" he asked, confused. "Lily, I didn't do—"

"We never keep anything from each other," she snarled. "We never keep secrets but here they are. These secrets, these lies are tearing our family apart. Don't you see it? Can't you feel it? Everything is falling apart. And you could have done something. You could have stood up for your daughter if she was so… so cornered, but no… you had to act like a coward. Because of your ignorance, our daughter is going to die."

"She knew what she was doing," James attempted, but Lily just roared furiously at this and stormed to the doorway.

"Harry! Dawn!"

At seeing the betrayed looks on his children's faces as they walked to his wife, he felt as though something inside of him was clenching so painfully he was unable to breathe.

"If she dies… its over," Lily said, her molten gaze pinning him to the wall. "If you can't even speak up for your daughter, what makes you think you will do anything for us? She saved your best friend's damned life! I thought that used to count for something. But you… you hid this from me, from us. To protect her. But when she needed us the most, where were you? You ignored her calls for help. If she dies, I don't think I could stand to look at you."

Even as James attempted to defend himself, Lily stormed from the room.

"Dad," Dawn whispered, shaking her head, tears streaming down her pale cheeks. Moments later, she streaked after her mother.

"How could you do this to Elise?" Harry asked his father quietly. "After everything she's ever done for us… she would never have done this to you. How ungodly selfish are you?"

James could only watch as his family swept out of the door. Feeling vaguely empty, he peeled himself from the wall, rubbing his arms. Then, taking a deep breath, he moved off.

x-o-x

A rhythmic beep was the only sound in young Elise's hospital room. Sirius Black stood outside the paned glass overlooking her room, but he was the only one. The doctors were letting her body rest after working to remove the bullet they had pulled from her lung. Her broken, battered face was still. The only movement she made was from the respirator keeping her alive. Her chest moved up and down with the steady hum of the machinery around her. From what Sirius had been told, she was in a coma.

But even as she rested, she felt out of mind and out of body. Her head twisted around, taking in the whitewashed walls and the somber expressions of everyone that stared at her through the glass. "They look so sad," she murmured.

A gentle hand reached out to cover hers, rough fingers sliding over smooth, pale skin. "They're afraid."

"They don't want me to die," she whispered, looking at the figure. She was comforted to see Cedric sitting in the chair next to her. He turned to smile at her. At seeing only a vaguely familiar face, she gasped and pulled her hand back. "Who are you?"

"Oh, I'm Cedric Diggory," he replied with a kind smile, reaching down to place a comforting hand on her arm. "The real Cedric Diggory."

"What do you mean, the real—"

"Do you really think that I could be that brainless?" he asked, cocking his head towards the older version. Cedric the elder was standing at the door, staring in with a pensive look on his handsome face. A minute later, he turned away.

"But why are you here?"

"Just think of me as an echo of the person you know," Cedric replied. "And you were right. They're afraid that you are going to die. Can't say I blame them myself. You took quite a hit."

"It really hurts," Buffy moaned, shifting her body uneasily. "Everything feels so fuzzy."

Cedric's eyes were sad as he looked away. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

"I know," Buffy said in a small, sad voice. "We were going to get married and live a perfect life. I was finally going to get everything I ever wanted…"

"No, you weren't."

Buffy turned her head sharply to the left. A pair of familiar green eyes stared down at her. A gentle hand moved down to touch her cheek as the woman's pretty face broke into a smile. "There you are, my precious."

"Mom?"

Lily Potter smiled down at her daughter. "You're really there. We've been trying to find you."

"Why? I've been here all this time," Buffy said, confused.

"No, you haven't," Cedric said, finally releasing her arm. Lily sat on the edge of the bed, taking her daughter's hand.

"I… I don't understand…"

"You don't have to understand," Lily replied softly. "There isn't much time left."

"I know. I'm dying."

"In more ways than one," a baritone voice chided in. Buffy's eyes went to look at a younger version of her father. At seeing her confusion, he added, "Yes, we're really here. Yes, this is really us."

"I so don't get—"

"You don't have to understand," Lily repeated, taking Buffy's face and directing her gaze to back. "But you need to know something. That man and that woman are not your parents."

"Uh… huh?"

"It's not real. None of it. It's all fake. It's all an illusion," James said impatiently.

Buffy gazed at all three faces staring at her so seriously over her own wilted body. "What the hell is going on?"

"What do you remember of your life before they said you were shot?" Lily asked quietly. At seeing Buffy's blank look, she suddenly smiled. "Don't you see? There wasn't anything to remember. Because this isn't real. How can this be real when you can't remember your life?"

"I was shot."

"Yes, that much of it was true," James replied, sitting down next to his wife and placing a hand over her waist. "You were shot… in the abdomen."

"In the head," she said in a forceful voice, feeling uneasy as her parents exchanged a look.

"Buffy, listen to us, please," Lily implored. "There is much more that—"

"What?" she asked suddenly, looking back at her mother. "What did you just call me?"

"It's your name," James replied. "Don't you remember?"

"Buffy's my name?"

"Yes," Cedric said. He was standing in front of Sirius now, staring out at all of the hurried activity in the hospital. "Hmm. You'd think that they'd be more concerned with your life instead of just allowing you to die. They're just waiting for you to snuff it."

Buffy took a moment to realize that it was true. They had willingly sacrificed her in order to flush out the criminal organization. If she died, she would never be a liability to them again. But the other part that was bugging her was her name. "My name is Elise."

"Cute name, but it's not you. This… this shell isn't you," Lily moaned, staring at the body with a grimace of disgust. "This isn't you. You never, ever would have let those men touch you. You're a lot stronger than that. You're supposed to be the Slayer."

"A what?"

"Oh, here we go," James groaned, clasping a hand to his face.

"Buffy, listen to me," Cedric said, appearing suddenly at her side. "Please listen, because there isn't a lot of time. You are a Slayer which makes you the strongest woman on Earth. You're not someone that needs protection. You're not someone that's about to sit by and die like this. There is a better world out there, a stronger world that wants you back in it."

"You can live in that world," Buffy said coldly, staring up at his resolute face. "I have to live in this one."

"No, you don't," Cedric replied angrily. "This isn't your life. Your life was stolen from you, ripped away by those that want you dead. You don't stand a chance here, but where you really are, they're counting on you to die."

"And isn't that the first cardinal rule of slaying?" her father asked. "Don't die?"

"I… I don't know what a Slayer even is…" Buffy said, her tone pleading.

"A Slayer is strength and power and wisdom and magic and love and bleeding and death and everything that comes with it," Lily replied sharply. "It's only your life. Who are we to tell you how to live your life?"

"Or die from it," James replied.

Buffy knew that she was dead. She didn't stand a chance. There wasn't anything left to fight for, except their pity. Turning back to her parents, she asked quietly, "What am I supposed to do in that world? Will you be there to guide me?"

There was a pause as James and Lily exchanged an uncomfortable look.

"We can't be with you," Cedric said in a muffled voice. It was then she noticed the grief in his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"We've been dead for sixteen years," Lily said, hating herself as she watched her daughter's face crumple. "Cedric has been dead almost three."

"You mean you're not real?" Buffy asked, turning to look at the young man she had sworn her life and soul to. He just smiled sadly at her, his hand lingering on her cold cheek.

"We never met in my world," he said softly. "I was dead for over a year when you met your brother."

"Harry?"

Lily nodded painfully at the break in Buffy's voice. "He needs you now. He needs you so much. You see… you're the only family he has left. How would it look to your poor brother if you gave up on him to die in a world that was so willing to let you go?"

"But you…"

"We died for him," James said proudly. "We don't regret it. We gave our lives for him. We knew the cost. But this price… this price is too high."

"We begged to be able to come here and talk you back," Lily moaned, tears openly raining down her pale face. "We knew that you could never have made it out on your own. This life… this nightmarish dream reality… it was never yours."

"I…"

"Your brother isn't the only one that needs you, Buff," James said, folding his arms. "What about your friends?"

"What about Oliver?"

"What?" Buffy gasped, turning to look at Cedric. "You mean he's… he's real?"

"Of course he's real," Cedric replied as, for the first time, Buffy smiled. "Something remained from your old life, some old feelings for him. You love him, even if you try to convince yourself you don't. But you were willing to give that up here."

"You gave up everything and got nothing in return," Lily said flatly.

"But you don't have to give up now," James said stoutly.

"What… what will it be like?"

There was another uncomfortable glance between her parents. "We won't lie to you," Lily said in a low voice. "Life there is difficult. There is a war between those that are good and those that are evil. The battle isn't going very well. The only hope in our world is Harry."

"Are you willing to let your brother fight alone? Or are you going to give him another reason to never stop fighting?"

Buffy was at a loss for words. Before this, she never would have thought that another reality existed. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized how out of place she seemed here. Everyone was plotting against her, just waiting for her to leave. It was almost as if they would have rather she stayed dead after being shot in the head…

She knew the difficult questions were yet to come. "How…?"

There were people shouting outside now. She vaguely heard an erratic beep but paid no heed to it. "Your real body is dying. You were shot and poisoned which has kept you here. We've been trying to reach you, trying to get you out but until now…"

"Your mind is finally weakening," Cedric added with no small amount of satisfaction.

"I'm… so lost."

"We're here to show you the way back," Lily said hopefully. "We're here to bring you home."

"Because we, your parents, will never give up on you," James said, his voice quavering. "Your friends didn't give up on you, either."

"But things have changed for them," Lily said softly, resting her hand on her daughter's arm. "Things are harder now. The war is coming to a head. People have died. And more people will."

"What can I do to help?"

"You're the hero, Buffy. You tell us what you want to do. It's your choice."

There was a stern resolution in her heart. There was something almost poetic about her parents being here, consoling her just moments before her death. For all she knew, she was already dead and this was their ironic version of heaven. But the other half of her wanted to trust them. She wanted to do something. She couldn't lie here and wait to die. She couldn't wait for nothingness. She was going to find something to hold onto.

Even if it was a promise made by three dead people.

"Mommy?" Why was it so much harder to breathe now? Why did it hurt to keep her eyes open? She vaguely saw motion behind her parents, but it was getting so dark. "It's so dark."

"We're here, Buffy," James said, his voice distant. "We're here. We're not going to leave you."

"No…"

"I wish I would have met you," came Cedric's dreamy, far-off tone. "I know I would have loved you."

"Not you…"

"Sweetheart, you're ready." Her mother's voice sounded close. She felt warm hands on her cold face. As she struggled to breathe, she gazed into those emerald eyes, clinging to a hope that she would exist beyond tomorrow. "It's time to let go. You're ready… let go… let… go…"

As darkness overtook her, she felt strangely calm. She half-expected to be swept off into some dark abyss and rest there. Instead, she felt as though she were falling through memories. She felt like screaming but she had no physical voice to cry out. Her eyes pleaded with her to open, but there was no strength left in her.

At long last, she felt as though she returned to a piece of her that lay forgotten, abandoned.

Outside, Lily Potter let out a vehement wail as the doctors working furtively on her daughter stepped back. One nurse glanced at the clock as the staff, all dejected, drew a blanket over the bruised, pale face of her eldest daughter. Her scream grew louder, her hand smacking the window and sliding down as she collapsed into Sirius's arms. As she sobbed her heart out, she vaguely felt her family close around her. She grabbed Harry and clung to him, unwilling to let another one of her children leave her. Cedric stood, staring through the window, shocked and broken. His mother clung to his arm, wiping at her own eyes, praying for the lost soul of her heroine.

With a great, agonized scream, Lily turned to look at her family who all wore faces full of shock and grief. She turned to James, who reached out to touch her. Blinking uncertainly, she backed away from him. Her children followed suit, catching their mother as she stumbled again. She shrieked at him to stay away from her as she backed away. James struggled against both Sirius and another officer as Lily left, her children training behind her. With a last, sideways glance at his daughter's body, he felt as though everything had fallen apart. It was all over now. For him and his family.

What had he done? And what was he going to do?

In one mind though, it was only the beginning…

x-o-x

With great effort, Buffy opened her eyes.

She was staring at a ceiling covered with muted yellow paint. Her eyes drifted to a window. Soft, white curtains rippled from the heat coursing through the vent below it. A single beam of sunlight fell into her lap. Her eyes found an old vanity mirror and dresser. They swept across a bookshelf full of old volumes, a door that barely stood open and a table with a vase of dying flowers atop it. It was harder to look the other way. She felt her stomach clench painfully as she forced her head to move. Wave after wave of nausea shook her. She closed her eyes against the green and swayed ominously where she lay. A minute later, she opened her eyes again.

A single, rumpled figure sat on top of an old, leather armchair. His clothes were rumpled, his glasses knocked askew and a book he must've been reading had fallen to his lap. One leg with an untied shoe was propped against the bed. As she stared at him, her mind registered his name. A single word came to her lips as she spoke, "Giles."

Her voice was both raspy and strangled. Her mind begged for water and yet she could barely move. Lifting her arm to knock on the man's leg seemed like too great an effort. But she felt a comforting voice in the back of her head telling her that if she put her mind to something, there was nothing that could stop her. That same voice came from a nightmare that had locked her away for months. She felt salty tears trickle down her cheeks as she lifted her arm and moved it back, nudging the man's shoe. "Giles…" she moaned, unable to stop her desperate need. "Giles!"

The man suddenly came to, waking up with a sharp gasp. Smoothing his wild hair and replacing his glasses over his nose, he looked down at his rumpled position and cursed colorfully under his breath. He pushed the book to the floor and sprang to his feet, tugging at his shirt and shaking his trousers to clear the wrinkles away.

It was then he noticed the arm that had been resting peacefully beneath the covers was now at an angle next to the pillow. Anger followed his confusion as he realized Weasley must've been in here toying around with him again. He was so lost in his anger and outright frustration at Percy that he didn't realize that bright eyes were following his every movement, blinking at regular intervals.

When he did notice her eyes, he did a double take. Wonder and awe filled his gaze as he sat down again, staring simply at the young woman staring right back at him. "Buffy?" he gasped.

"Water?" she begged.

He blinked and rose to his feet again, his mind swimming over a million or so possibilities yet focusing on the one. His Slayer was finally awake. She was staring at him with her eyes wide open and blinking up at him. She begged for water, which his mind never fully processed. He was too busy reveling in the sight of his eldest Slayer being alive that he had no concern whatsoever for her present needs.

"Buffy, how…"

"Water…?" Her voice was sluggish, matching her eyes which seemed too bright for her face. Her skin looked translucent in the soft sunlight, casting shadows that made her gaunt face appear more skull-like.

"Water…" he replied, getting to his feet. Already his mind was making plans, trying to figure out the next step… "Right, water. I'll get you water. Hold on."

As he swept from the room, the door banging on the opposite wall as he flung it open, she heard his voice yelling out that Buffy was awake.

For a moment, she stared at the unfamiliar walls, realizing this wasn't hers. Tears came to her eyes again as she felt something like a breath of air on her face. A comforted feeling of being watched over settled her jangled nerves as she felt the anger of being sacrificed needlessly in her nightmare pass away. With that came a renewed sense of hope and longing for a life she knew belonged to her.

x-o-x

Next chapter: A reunion.

Author's Note: I had a great time in Nevada over New Year's, but all good things come to an end. The past week has been hell, literally. Nothing would make me happier than to know you like what you've read. Until then… rock on!