It's getting late so this is the last chapter I'm posting tonight. It's taking longer because all of the chapters are handwritten so I have to re-type them and then post them. I'll try to have the first 11 chapters up by tomorrow night.

Disclaimer: Joss owns everything, I own nothing.

Chapter 5- Reality

:: Meanwhile, back at Angel Investigations.::

Angel:: "What about Buffy?"

Cordelia:: "Yeah, how is good old Buffy?"

Wesley:: "There's really no way for me to tell you the whole story in one sentence."

Angel:: "Wesley, just get to the point."

Wesley:: "Alright then. Buffy is in Los Angeles. She moved in with her father yesterday."

Angel:: He scoffs. "She knows she's not suppo--"

Wesley:: "--Her mother is sick."

Angel:: He turns around, with his back to them, going into his common form of brooding.::

Wesley:: "She was transferred to a better hospital here. Apparently Buffy is beside herself about the whole situation. Rupert told me

that Buffy told him she had spoken with me about scheduling to train. She lied obviously. Rupert seems to gather that Buffy

seems depressed. Perhaps Angel if you talked to her she would--"

Cordelia:: She cuts him off. "Look Wesley, if Buffy has psycho problems because of her mom, that's her own fault. Why should Angel

help her deal? We all know how that will end up, and I am not going to endorse that route as it would leave Angel all

un-nuetered, and me without a source of steady income."

Angel:: He remains silent.

Wesley:: "Angel, what should we do?"

Angel:: He begins to come back to reality, turning back around to face them. "Cordelia, I want you to look for Joyce in all of the local

hospitals. Wes, get me her dad's address. I'll be in my office." He walks over to his chair behind his desk and takes a seat,

and watches as the two take off.::

::Meanwhile...::

:: A dark shadowy figure steps off a bus somewhere in the middle of Los Angeles. His black duster is blowing in the wind as he camps out underneath a lamp post, lighting up a cigarette. "Soon Slayer, soon." ::

::At Los Angeles General Hospital, the next day.::

Buffy:: She would be found seated in the waiting room along with Dawn and her dad.::

::A nurse approaches the group:: "Your mother is ready to see you now."

Buffy:: She looked to her dad and sister with a worn out look in her eye. "You two go on ahead."

Hank:: "You sure honey?"

Buffy:: She nodded and watched as Dawn and her dad followed the nurse down the hallway towards her mom's room. She was not

a big fan of hospitals. Her and hospitals mixed like oil and vinegar. It just brought back bad memories and she could feel

her emotions grabbing a hold of her. She wouldn't let her mother see her like this, she had to be strong. She couldn't break

down. Within seconds the tears would begin to fall, and she started to cry silently.::

:: A man sitting next to her slowly places his hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?" The man was dressed to impress. An expensive suit, very well put together.::

Buffy:: "Thanks for the concern but I would rather not talk about it."

:: "Something has to be bothering you. You wouldn't be crying if something wasn't bothering you." He reaches into his pocket and

pulls out a kleenex and hands it to her.::

Buffy:: She takes the tissue from the kind stranger, forcing a smile. "Thank you." She wipes the tears from her eyes. "I guess it's a

good thing I decided to wear waterproof mascara huh?"

:: He chuckled. "That's all you're concerned about?"

Buffy:: "My mom's sick. So I'm trying to do my best to take my mind off of things."

:: "I see. That's hard to deal with. My mom died when I was young."

Buffy:: "I'm sorry to hear that."

:: "It's alright. I'm sorry, I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Lindsey." He extends his hand. "Lindsey Mcdonald."

Buffy:: She smiles and shakes his hand. He was a looker. She definitely could see herself with a guy like him, minus the suit.

"Buffy Summers."

Lindsey:: "It's nice to meet you. Listen, could I take you out to lunch or something?"

Buffy:: 'Well he likes to move fast,' she thought. "I really don't want to leave my mom."

Lindsey:: "Just one hour, please? I have to drop some papers off at my office though if you don't mind making a stop?"

Buffy:: "Sure, I'll come. At least it's something to keep my mind off of my mom for the time being." :: And within moments they would

both stand up and walk out of the hospital. Little did Buffy know what she was getting herself into.::