A/N: So I'm so sorry about the late posting. Hopefully none of you have lost interest in this story. I already have a new chapter written, I just have to edit a bit. I have a break in a couple weeks so hopefully I'll be able to pump out a few more chapters of this and Consequences.

Chapter 5

"So, I think we've established that I'm happy to see you and all, but what are you doing here? Did you find your dad?" she asked after they were both sitting on the ground resting their backs on the tombstone behind him.

"Yeah, we found him. Turns out he wasn't missing after all, just tracking down leads to find the demon that killed mom, and forgot to call for three years. Spent all that time looking for the jackass just cuz he was too busy to pick up the phone.

Buffy decided to be nice, and not retort with "like father, like son". After all, he had done the same to her, and she had spent countless nights waiting by the phone and worrying if he was dead or not.

"Wait-we?" her voice rising a bit with anger at the thought of him taking a girlfriend along, while when she asked to come with him, he said it was too dangerous.

If he noticed her sudden anger, Dean didn't let on.

"Yeah, remember I told you about my brother Sam? I dropped him off in Stanford on my way here, but he's gonna come meet us in a few days" Dean said, thinking about how devastated Sam looked when he drove him to the cemetery Jessica was buried.

"I can't wait to meet him, what's he like?" she asked. The gentle breeze that they had been enjoying picked up and Buffy shivered. Dean wrapped his arm around her and brought her closer to his body without a second thought. She snuggled in further, and inhaled the foresty scent that was all Dean, mixed in with the smell of alcohol.

"Uh, well for one thing, he's freakishly tall…" He lost his train of thought when imagining his over 6 foot brother standing beside the 5'3 woman who was currently trying to burry herself inside his leather coat and smiled at the picture. "He's the complete opposite of me in some ways, hell he even has some superpowers. But seriously though, you'll like him"

"Probably, if he's nothing like you" she said while giving him a teasing smile. "You must have been pretty pissed at your dad, huh? What happened when you found him?"

"Hugged him after seeing he was okay, then punched him in the jaw for leaving, then drove straight here. But enough about that, I wanna know what's been happening with you".

"Not too much. Moved here, got a new watcher, made some new friends, boyfriends. Hey, wait a sec. How did you know that I was in Sunnydale?"

"Just cuz I wasn't here to look you myself doesn't mean I wasn't keeping tabs on you"

If it were anyone else, Buffy would have been pissed off with the insinuation that she needed to be taken care of. But from Dean, his protectiveness made her feel safe, and she welcomed it.

"Alright, enough with the talkage, I've been dying for a good sparring partner since you left" she said as she bounced to her feet. "Literally" she mumbled under her breath.

"What was that princess? I'm pretty sure you just said you died" he yelled while jumping to his feet. "You better have been joking" he threatened, stalking up to her in a way that made her feel like the prey instead of the natural predator that was in her.

"Oh shit" Buffy mumbled, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. She knew he wouldn't take the news very well. This was not how she planned to tell him of that little incident with the Master. Oh no, she had it all planned out. She was gonna buy some whisky and get him ridiculously drunk, then tell him, and pray he wouldn't remember in the morning.

Oh well, might as well get a good fight out of it.

"Yeah, but it was only for a few minutes, no biggie. Gotta say though, death by drowning much less preferable than when I let Angelus bite me", deliberately using the name she knew he would recognize. He didn't disappoint.

He grabbed her hair and pulled, tilting her neck to the side and exposing the mark that Angel left on her skin. "You LET the fucking scourge of Europe bite you? What the fuck were you thinking?" he practically growled.

"Relax, it's not like I didn't enjoy it. Did you know vampires have the ability to make their bite pleasurable? Let me tell you, that was the most erotic thing that's happened to me in my life" she deliberately provoked.

"You actually got off on his bite? What the hell is wrong with you? I know I didn't fucking raise you like that"

"You're right, I liked to think of it as an acquired taste. I mean, all that fighting makes me horny…what's a girl supposed to do? C'mon, hit me, show me what a stupid girl I've been".

Just as soon as the words had slipped out of her mouth, Dean lashed out and punched her in the gut. She had learned a long time ago that the only way to get Dean to fight with his full strength was to get him pissed. Apparently, he wasn't really comfortable hitting girls, never mind the fact that she's the Slayer, and could take anything he dished out.

She smiled predatorily.

"You gonna show me what you got?" he asked as she circled him.

"You gonna show me how it's done?"

"There are so many inappropriate answers to that question", and just like that she kicked his feet out from under him. Half an hour later had them both panting and out of breath, so they finally decided to call a draw.

Dean was pretty damn impressed. When they had sparred in the past, he had always won. Sure, she was stronger physically, but that doesn't matter if you don't know how to use it.

"So you done using me to take out your aggression?" she asked him with a smile on her face, letting him know she was teasing and had enjoyed their sparring.

"Well that depends, any other near-death experiences you have to share?"

Just like that, the smile disappeared from her face, filling her eyes with dread instead. She quickly walked out of the cemetery in the direction of her house.

"Buffy Anne Summers, you better get your ass back here" he stated in a deceptively calm voice. Oh, but Buffy knew better. His rage was just under the surface, barely being restrained. And considering she was already sore enough, she wanted to avoid this topic as much as possible.

"Umm, how bout not" she spit out as she made a break for it.

A/N: As always, please read and review! I love it. I'm still very insecure about my writing, so please do. Constructive criticism is always welcome as well, as long as it's criticism phrased nicely.