Buffy and Cordeila

"Season 5"

AN: Sorry this one took so long. I have be getting a lot of homework lately…hopefully the next chapter wont take as long. I could have had this on up on Sunday but it would have been rushed and I doubt it would have been any good so I decided to delay the post…I hope it was worth it.

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Chapter 13: Blood Ties

Magic Box

Sometimes the life of a slayer just plain sucked. Late nights in a Magic Shop when you should be at home cuddled with the one you love all warm in your bed. Talking about killing a God instead of telling the one your love how much you actually love her. Yeah Buffy just loves her life.

Willow, Xander and Giles where here too even though they could be at home in their beds cuddled with the ones they love. But no…they are here with her…now that is true friendship. Buffy looked around and saw that they where all looking in books but she knew they weren't going to find anything…Glory is a freaking God.

She was around before words where invented and they are researching in books…how they save they world…Buffy would never now. Sometimes they could be just plain stupid.

"Buffy?" Xander called to her. When she didn't answer he tried again. "Hey Buff?" he said and this time she looked at him. "Is it fun in your world?" he asked.

"Yes," Buffy stated without hesitation. "It was warm and I was wrapped in Cordeila's arms in a place that wasn't here." She said with a smile when she saw Xander's glazed over look in his eyes. "Wanna come join me?" she asked figuring she might as well play with his manly mind a little. "There might be oil involved." She said as she looked at the ceiling.

"Xander," Xander looked at Willow. "Drool," she said with a smile and then she turned to Buffy. "Why do you do that?"

"Because it is fun," Buffy said with a pout. Willow glared at her. "What? Don't tell me you never thought about doing that to him." Buffy said with a pointed stair.

"Okay maybe a couple of times," Willow confessed.

"Hey!" Xander said. "I am sitting right here," he said.

Giles walked over to them and coughed. "Do you mind we have a God to research," Giles said as he took off his glasses and cleaned them. He was happy they where making jokes and laughing…because it very well might be the end of the world. He never in his life before he became a watcher even witnessed a group of young people like these three that where willing to put everything on the line…for people that didn't even now they existed.

"Uh, Giles?" Giles looked over and saw Buffy staring at him. "You where all spaced out again," she said. "It was weird." He smiled at her as he went over and sat at the table with them. "So what info do we have on our resident God?" Buffy asked.

Giles looked down at his cup of tea and sighed. "Nothing I'm afraid." He looked around the table. "You see the Gods predate the written word…"

"And yet here we are looking in books," Xander interrupted. Then he saw Giles glare at him. "Sorry."

"As I was saying," he paused. "There is a record of her…she is the only one…which I find extremely odd." He said he took his glasses off and cleaned them. "It seems that Glory and some other rolled over one of the many unpleasant hell dimensions." Giles stated.

"There is more then one?" Willow asked in a shocked voice.

"There are many…all different," Anya said.

"Neat," Buffy said. "But her being on earth has to be affecting her somehow right?" Buffy asked almost hopeful.

"From what I've been able to gather, her living in this world is ... seriously affecting her mental state as well. She's only being able to keep her mind intact by, uh, extracting energy from us. Well, from, from the human brain." Giles said in a disgusted voice.

"She eats brains?" Buffy asked. "And the yunkieness just keeps on coming." Buffy said as she raised an eyebrow. "It there more?" she asked.

"What about the key thing she is looking for?" Xander asked. "Shouldn't we find it before she does?" he asked.

"That's not all that important," Buffy said as she walked over and took a seat.

"If she is after than it is important Buffy." Tara said in a reasoning tone.

Buffy took a deep breath. "You know what Tara…your right." She paused. "You guys are going to risking your life I think it is about time you knew why." Buffy paused again but this time it was dramatic affect. "There is something you need to know about Dawn," she looked over at Giles and he nodded. "Dawn is the key…she isn't real." She was met with shocked faces.

Buffy and Xander's apartment (next day)

When Buffy woke up in the morning she noticed that the bed was empty. Cordeila was always in bed with her even if she was already awake…she always waited for Buffy to wake up, but not today. Buffy sat up in bed and looked around but she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary…which meant Cordeila got up and left by herself.

Buffy slowly got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. As she was in the bathroom she couldn't help but overhear the conversation going on between Xander and Anya…sometimes you just had to love slayer hearing.

By finished getting ready for the day before she walked out into her empty bedroom. She frowned at the emptiness. Where would she have gone? Buffy asked herself as she opened the door to her bedroom and walked out.

As she walked down the stairs she heard Willow and Dawn talking in the living room. She walked in and frowned when she saw Willow, Tara and Willow but still their was no Cordeila. "Hey…what are you guys doing her?" Buffy asked Willow and Tara as she went and sat next to Dawn on the couch. "Don't you guys gave college type classes today?" Buffy asked trying to be funning when she saw everyone sad looks…it didn't work.

Willow, who was standing, took a seat on the air of the chair that Tara was sitting in. "Um, Buffy we have to tell you something," Willow said as she looked at everyone in the room. But before she could say anything Faith came barging through the door. "Faith…you're late." Willow stated plainly.

"I know Red…I kinda got tied up," Faith said with her classic smirk.

"Okay," Willow said. Then she turned to look back at Buffy. "The cops found about five dead bodies in the woods this morning." She paused and looked at Faith. "They fit the description of the people who you fought in the alley way when the Council was here." Willow said. "The did however find one that was still alive…he is in a mental ward of the hospital." Willow finished with a glance at Buffy.

"Glory?" Buffy asked. Willow nodded. "Great," Buffy said and then she stood up from her chair. She looked at everyone. "Will, why don't you go see if you can find anything about these guys on the computer and Faith and I will head to the mental ward to see if we can dig up any information." Buffy finished giving out orders.

"Like what B…hey has there been an increase in crazy people lately?" Faith said in a sarcastic voice.

"Well…yeah," Buffy said as she turned to grab her coat. "I never said it was going to sound convincing when we asked them…but we are going to be in a mental ward…so we are aloud to act at least a little crazy." Buffy said as she opened the door and looked back at Faith. "You coming or am I gonna have to go act like a loon all by myself?"

"You kidding…I would miss it for the world," Faith said with a smile as she grabbed her coat and followed Buffy out the door. "This is going to be one of those things I make fun of you for later B," Faith said as the door closed behind them.

Willow turned to Tara and smiled. "They're never going to change," Willow said as she walked over to the table where she laptop was set up. When she sat down Tara sat down next to her and looked at she started her researching. "They are going to be fighting each other even when their old and they can't walk." Willow added. "I remember when they wouldn't even talk to each other because Buffy was jealous of Faith; thinking that she would take us away from her." Willow paused. "And then she accidentally killed someone." She added with a frown. "She closed herself off from us…and Buffy. I think it hurt Buffy the most because Faith was the only one who knew what it was like to be a slayer." Willow paused. "Okay enough with the depression time," Willow added with a smile.

"I can't imagine a time when the hated each other," Tara added.

"And you don't want to," a voice said from behind them. Willow and Tara turned to see Cordeila standing in the hallway. "It was the worst time to be part of the Scoobie gang because one slayer was saving you and the other was trying to kill you. And unlike vampires Faith could come into your house at any time." Cordeila added as she sat next to Willow. "You weren't safe anywhere."

"Cordeila…nice way to make it sound worst than it is," Willow said with a sideways glance at Cordeila. "It wasn't that bad." She added.

"Oh no…not even when Faith kidnapped you and held you ransom for a box that wouldmake the mayor unkillable…no it wasn't that bad." Cordeila said in her classic Queen C voice.

Willow ignored her as she continued to work on the computer. "You sound like you hate her a lot…yet now you are all with the buddy buddy," Willow said as she looked at Cordeila with a weird look. "What's up with that?" Cordeila just shot her a glare and Willow went back to working on what she was working on.

Magic Box

ara and Willow went to the Magic Box after Buffy called them and said to meet them there. Cordeila had taken off somewhere else and it was making Willow nervous how Cordeila didn't ant to be around Buffy today.

When Cordeila woke up she told Willow not to tell her where she was going, and of course Cordeila never told here where she was going so she really couldn't tell Buffy anything. And when she saw Buffy's hurt look that morning she wished she pushed Cordeila for more information.

The last time Willow had seen Buffy that depressed was when Angel left and then again when Riley left her. She swore to herself that she would never see that face on her friend again but the look was back. Willow looked up and saw Dawn walking toward the Magic Box and she tensed up remembering what Buffy told her the other day. Dawn isn't real. Buffy's words echoed in her head as Dawn approached.

"Hey Willow, Tara," Dawn said as she stopped in front of them and waved.

"Hello Dawn," Tara said as calm as possible.

"Dawnie…hey!" Willow said in her excited voice. "Who are you doin today? You looked good? Not that I don't think you look good usually…not that I normal check you out. Not that I am saying that people shouldn't check you out. I am going to shut up now." Willow said as she ended her babble looking down at her feet.

"I'm good…ah, what are you guys doin?" Dawn asked.

"We are d-doin a protection spell for the Magic Box," Tara said. "So Glory can't come in anymore and surprise us." She finished as she looked at Willow and smiled. "What are you doing here?" Tara asked.

"Buffy told me to meet her here after school. And hey look it is after school…so here I am." Dawn said as she crossed the boundary and walked into the Magic Box.

"She isn't real?" Willow asked not being able to really get that fact into her brain. "She has to be…that is our little Dawnie." Willow finished. Willow finished by putting some powder on the group where the semi-circle was. As soon as the powder hit the group it glowed and then disappeared. Willow turned and looked at Tara. "I guess where done," Willow said with a forced smiled.

"I guess," Tara said as they walked into the Magic Box. When they walked in they saw Anya and Xander talking to Dawn and Giles and Buffy just coming out of the back room. Tara and Willow both looked at each other and frowned when they saw the far away look on Buffy's face. "Hey guys," Tara said as they got closer to the table.

"Hey," Buffy said as she walked over to where Dawn was standing. "How was school?" she asked.

"School was school…all fun and exciting," Dawn said looking at Willow and then lend in closer to Buffy. "I have never be so bored in my life," she whispered and Buffy resisted the urge to laugh. "How was your day…and by the way where is Cordeila?" she asked.

"My day was good, you know training, training and you know what?" Buffy said.

"What?" Dawn asked.

"More training." Buffy finished. "Oh and I got to go visit the mental ward at the hospital with Faith…that was fun." Buffy said sarcastically.

Dawn looked at her sister closely and noticed that something was wrong. "What's wrong Buffy?" she asked noticing that the last time she saw Buffy this upset was when Riley left.

"Nothing," Buffy said looking up and smiling trying to mask her hurt…she failed. When Dawn gave her the "you have to be kidding" look Buffy turned away and headed back toward the waiting room. "Everything is fine." She said as she closed the door behind her. She needs to hit something, as she needed to do it quick.

Buffy walked into the back training room and smiled at the quietness. She just wanted to be by herself…she needed to think about a lot of things. As she walked over to the punching bag she turned around when she heard the door open. When she saw how it was shuck her head and turned back to the punching bag. "I don't want to talk right now," she said as she got into fighting stance.

"Come on," the person said as they walked closer.

"No," Buffy said not even turning around. Just looking at the bag and picture something…or rather someone she wanted to kill.

"What's wrong with you?" the person asked not backing down from the slayer.

"Nothing," Buffy said a bit to quickly.

"Don't lie to me," the person said.

"Listen Cordy…I really don't want to talk right now. When I come in here I come in here to be alone." Buffy said flatly still not looking at her girlfriend.

"Fine," Cordeila said a bit sadly. "But I will get out of her Summers," she said. "You know me better than to doubt that," she added as she walked toward the door. She opened at then looked one last time a Buffy whose back was still turned to her. She hung her head and closed the door behind her and she walked out. I just hope I didn't do anything wrong. Cordeila thought as she approached the others.

It really wasn't anything Cordeila did, it was just that Buffy had so much pressure on her lately. With keeping Dawn being a key a secrete, her mom being in and out of the hospital and Dawn's new relationship with Riley…she had no idea why that bothered her so much…but it did. Buffy took a deep breath and started working with the punching bag. The rest of the gang left her alone and she was grateful for that.

Glory's building

Glory was not in a very good mood today and usually nothing bothered her but today was different. She found a group of ancient soldiers that night, ones that where sworn to keep the keys from her, and she had killed them.

But that wasn't what made her so moody. It was the fact that she cared that she hurt them. She actually felt bad that she slaughtered them like sheep. What is happening to me? She asked herself as she walked around the beaten soldier that she had taken with her to question. She wanted to know if they knew anything about the key.

Not that they where going to tell her anything.

Just then Glory turns to the soldier chained to her ceiling…Orlando…she didn't remember his name. "So I am going to ask you nicely…where is my key?" she asked and she walked up to him so she was standing right in front of him…eye to eye.

He smiled and evil grin. "I am never going to tell you," he spat out. "Even if I knew." He added. He paused. "I would die thousand deaths before I spilled that information." he added with a bloody tooth grin.

"God," Glory said annoyed. "What is it with you noble types," she said, as she looked him over. "But you don't have to worry…I will make you first death last a long time." Glory smiles and walks away to grab his sword. She grabs it and holds it at his throat. "Are you afraid of intimacy?" she asked. "Scared of letting someone in…don't worry about that anymore." She said as she put the sword down and walked over to him.

She stood in front of him and brought her fingers to his temples. She gave him the most innocent smile she could muster before she plunged her fingers into his brain. He screamed in agony as she sucked his brain from his head. As it gave her energy and strength it drained him of all his. When she pulled her fingers back she looked at him and smiled.

"I have somewhere I have to be. People to see…people to see. I have to go I am going to be late…can't be late, can't be late." He said as he rushed out of her apartment.

"I hate noble men," Glory said as she walked over to the window and watched as she stumbled as he left. "They never tell you what you need to know." She added as she turned back to her now empty apartment. She walked over and sat on her bed admiring one of her many pairs of shoes.

Summers house

It was Buffy's birthday. Willow and the gang where proud of themselves for not spilling there surprise party they had planned. When Buffy got home from patrol they where all sitting in the living room with presents and cake.

At first she didn't know what to think, usually her birthday's ended in badness. But then Cordeila came up behind her and wrapped her arms and Buffy from behind. "Happy Birthday baby," Cordelia said. "I was too busy looking for your present and that is why I wasn't around much today." Cordeila elaborated.

Willow told her how moopy Buffy was all day because she wasn't around. So Cordeila figured when she got the chance she would tell Buffy why she wasn't around so Buffy would start to think that she was getting tired of her.

Buffy had just sat down and received her gifts from the gang when Dawn came up to her and gave her a small, messy wrapped present. "Sorry…I didn't have any nice wrapping paper." Dawn said as she handed Buffy the present.

"I love your wrapping," Buffy lied. Buffy carefully unwrapped the present just because she knew it made her sister mad. When Buffy saw what her sister had gotten her she felt tears prick her eyes. She looked up at Dawn and smiled. "I love it," she said.

"Riley and I went to down to the beach and collected and bunch of shells. He even helped me glue them in so as I figure it this is partly his too." She paused as Buffy stood up. "The picture is of you and me…the first time you brought me to the beach with Xander and Willow…it was just us four, and it was nice," she added.

Buffy walked over and hugged her sister as the tears started coming from her eyes. "I love it…I love you Dawnie," Buffy said as she held her sister tighter.

"Okay…it wasn't supposed to be a sad gift." Dawn said as Buffy continued to hug her. "Okay Buffy this is way to much sisterly bonding…and I need my personal space." Dawn said as she pushed her sister away. "Geez…emotional much?" Dawn asked as she looked at her sister strangely.

The rest of the gang could help but laugh as Buffy blushed and looked around at the rest of them. "Sorry," she said with a smile. "Um…how about so cake." Buffy said trying to get the attention off of her.

"Great idea Buffster," Xander grinned from ear to ear at the mention of food. "You know me I can always eat," He added with one of his silly Xander-type smiles.

Buffy got up from her seat and walked into the kitchen followed by her mom and Giles. They walked into the kitchen and grabbed they ice-cream cake out of the freezer. "There are still a lot of things that I don't understand," Joyce said from where she stood by the kitchen sink. "I mean is she dangerous?" she asked the question that has been bugging her ever since she found her little girl really wasn't her little girl.

"No," Buffy said quickly.

"Wait a minute…I assume your 're talking about her physically…but she is dangerous in the fact of what she is used for," Giles stated simply.

"She isn't dangerous," Buffy said sternly. "She is just Dawn." She added trying to convince both herself and her mother. Just then she heard something in the hallway. "Dawn is that you?" she called out.

"No," a voice said from the doorway.

"Riley?" she said. "How much did you hear?" she asked suddenly worried.

"Enough…now if you don't mind could you explain all this to me…because I am not liking the fact that my girlfriend is a demon." He said in a bitter tone that ran down Buffy's spine.

As Buffy explained to him about Dawn and Glory and what exactly Dawn was used for she began to get worried that Riley would up and leave her sister for no go reason. As she was talking Dawn walking into the hallway and started to listen to the conversation. What she was hearing was not all that comforting. But what was even more disturbing was the way Riley was handling the whole situation…which wasn't good.

Magic Box

Spike was feeling so bored that he didn't know what to do with himself. Faith had instead on coming to the Magic Box and their one and only date that they ever had…and as this was turning out it was going to be the last date Spike ever went on.

The only reason he went was because Faith needed to look up something…something about Dawn. Spike cared a lot about Dawn and she was the main reason he had tagged along…even if he didn't end up with Buffy he would always protect Dawn with his life.

"Okay…this looks like a drawer under here," Faith said as she patted the spot under the cash register. "Tada," she said in triumph and a drawer slid open and a book was revealed. "Great a book…why couldn't it be one video tape?" Faith asked as she handed Spike the book.

"Oh look I found something…" Spike said. "The key is not directly described in any known literature, but all research indicates an energy matrix vibrating at a dimensional frequency beyond normal human perception. Only those outside reality can see the key's true nature. Outside reality. What's that mean?"

"Crazy people." Faith elaborated. Faith took the book from Spike. "The monks possessed the ability to transform energy, bend reality." Blah, blah, blah. Good lord, Giles writes as dull as he talks, doesn't he? They started work. But the Council ... has suggested ... to us that they were interrupted. Presumably by ... Glory. They obviously did manage to accomplish the taste...accomplish the task. They had to be certain the Slayer would protect it with her life. So they sent the key to her ... in human form. In the form of a sister." Faith looks up from the book and looks at Spike.

"Dawn." The say at the same time. They put everything back where it was and head over to the Summers house.

Summers house

Everyone was sitting in the kitchen talking about nothing at all so Dawn took it as her prime time to leave. She didn't want to be around people who couldn't even telling her the truth about who and what she was. And to make it all worse Riley was taking it the worst way. Dawn heard him tell Buffy that he didn't want anything to do with the Summers family…he claimed that none of them where normal.

Of course Buffy stuck up for her saying that he wasn't normal. She used the fact that he worked with the Initiative to create a demon army against him. He really didn't have anything to say to that so he walked out. Dawn had watched this all play out in front of her from outside in the yard. When Riley left Dawn ran up to her room and climbed out her window so on one would now that she ran off. The last thing she wanted was people's pity.

Meanwhile inside the house

Buffy was sitting on the couch playing with Cordeila's hair and Cordeila's head laid in Buffy's lap. She had heard Dawn run upstairs after Riley ran off and she figured she needed to give her sister some time…so she just left her alone. Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, and Giles had all stuck it out with her, Cordeila and her mom.

Riley…to say the least did not take the news about Dawn very well. Out of all people she thought would be okay with this would be Riley; after all he dated her. I girl how could kick his ass without even breaking a sweet. And what was Dawn…just a big ball of energy. She didn't have any more power than a normal girl…so Buffy could figure out what freaked him out some much.

"Maybe someone should check on her," Tara suggested as everyone continued to wait for Dawn to come downstairs.

"I think we should give her some more time." Buffy suggested. And just as she was about to continue with what she was saying Faith and Spike burst through the door. "Hey guys…your late." Buffy said looking at the clock.

"Huh…oh yeah happy birthday B," Faith said. "Anyways I have some news to tell you," Faith said with a smile. "The only people that came truly see Dawn for what she is are crazy…insane people." Faith said proud of herself fro coming trough on the research front. "That is why there have been an increase in crazy people…besides that and the fact that whenever Glory sucks there brains they go all…insane." Faith said.

Just then Buffy went up the stairs and burst into Dawn's room only to find out that she wasn't there. Buffy turned and walked slowly down the stairs. She looked everyone in the eye and gave a weak smile. "She's gone." She said. Cordeila came over and hugged her girlfriend tight. Cordeila looked everyone in the eye over Buffy shoulder and they all got the hint…go find Dawn.

Sunnydale Hospital

Dawn ended up heading over to the hospital…just for somewhere to go. When she got there though she walked into the mental ward and everyone in there started to react to her as if she was some kind of evil.

She tried to talk to one…but he served as very little help.

When she walked out she bumped into Ben…and doctor who had worked on her mother when she was here. He told her that he was always available whenever she needs to talk…and right now she needed to talk to someone who wouldn't lie to her face.

He walked her back into the locker room and over to a table. He got her a glass of water and something out of the vending machine…he got stuff for himself also and together they sat and snacked together.

"So do you have anything you want to talk about?" Ben asked. "You know you look tired…should I call your sister to have her pick you up?" he asked.

Dawn looked up at him. "I don't have a sister," she said bitterly. "I am nothing…I'm just a thing the monks made so Glory couldn't find me. I'm not real." Dawn finished. Then she looked up at Ben who had a scared look on his face. Dam it Dawn! You don't go around telling people about stuff like that…no wonder you don't have any friends. "Ben a-are you okay?" she asked a little scared.

"You're the key?" he said. Before she got a chance to ask how he knew about the key he continued. "Go! Before she finds you. Don't ask me how she knows, 'cause she always knows. Just go." He started to scream. Dawn tried to calm him down but he was just getting worse and worse. "You don't understand, you're a kid. You stay, she'll find you. She finds you, she'll hurt you." Dawn stands up and starts to walk away. "You're what she's been searching for. I am telling you, run. You don't know, you - (looks around nervously) Oh god. Oh god no, she's coming. I can feel it, you've gotta get out. No ... oh no, she's here!" he yelled and suddenly Ben turned into Glory.

Dawn didn't know what to say. She thought she was talking with Glory but then suddenly Ben started freaking out and he disappeared and then Glory appeared. Oh God I hope she didn't hurt him. Dawn thought to herself as she watched Glory go over to where there was a locker. She opened it and took of the doctor scrubs and then but on a nice red silk dress. After she was done getting dressed Glory walked back over to where Dawn was standing.

"Now what I want to know is what I the slayer's kid sister doing her talking to little 'ol Ben." Glory said as she took hold of Dawn chin. "He wasn't being naughty was he?" she asked and Dawn shuck her hand no not really trusting her words at the moment. "What do you say we find a nice quiet place to talk and you can tell me all about what you and Benny Ben talking about." Glory said as she urged her toward the table.

Meanwhile Summers house

"Okay we have checked every spot?" Buffy asked as the group returned from the search. She was all clamed down now and was ready to get her sister back. "Okay that leaves just the hospital…let's go." Buffy said as they walked out of the house all worried about Dawn safety.

Hospital

"Okay. Small talk over. I'm in a bit of a crunch here, so let's cut right to the ooey gooey center. Your sister, the Slayer, has my key. It's mine, I want it. Do you know where she squirreled it away? There's ice cream and puppydogs in it for you if you start singin'." Glory said as she pushed Dawn into a wall…not godly hard but hard enough for Dawn to wince in pain.

"You know if you get a little more descriptive I might be able to help you out," Dawn lied trying to buy herself some time.

"Well... the last time I caught a peep ... it was a bright green swirly shimmer. Really brought out the blue in my eyes. But then those sneaky little monks pulled an abracadabra, so now it could look like anything. You see the predicament I'm in." Glory said growing angry.

"Maybe…" Dawn said starting to realize that this hell god was insane…and there was no way she was getting out of this alive…unless Buffy came to the rescue like always. As if one cue Buffy came through the door with the gang. "Buffy!"

"I heard someone head was twisted off…figured it was you," Buffy told Glory. Buffy didn't even give her time to answer as she when in to kick her but Glory caught her lag and tried to tip her over. As Buffy did a back flip in the air she kicked Glory in the face. Glory stumbled back…but not much. Giles loaded and shot the crossbow arrow and her. Glory caught and smiled and she flew it toward Dawn. Just as Buffy was about to jump in front of Dawn to catch the arrow herself she saw Riley jump in front of her instead.

Just then Buffy turned and nodded and Willow and Tara. "Discede!" they say and throw some sparkly stuff on Glory and she disappears into tin air. "Willow!" Tara yelled as Willow hit the floor.

"I guess I need to work out a few kinks," Willow said trying to be funny.

Just then some nurse come into the room after hearing all the noise. They quickly rush to Riley's aid. The doctors pick him up and put him on the stretcher and they take him to another room. "Go with him," Buffy told Dawn. "I have to call Cordeila and tell her that everything is alright." Buffy explained. Dawn left and Buffy went over to the payphone.

"Hello?" Cordeila answered the phone.

"Hey baby," Buffy said.

"You okay?" Cordeila asked concerned.

"Yeah everyone is fine," Buffy said. "You can senf Faith and Spike home…I will be there in a hour or so." She said. "I love you Cordy…you know that right." Buffy said as she realized that the only reason Riley jumped in front of Dawn was because he wanted to prove to her that he loved her…even though she was different. Personally Buffy didn't want to have to do that.

"I know baby…I know," Cordeila said. They said their good-byes and hung up the phone.

AN: I hope you like it!