Chapter 11: Bitten

Several days later Buffy woke bright and cheerful like the weather outside. They were having an Indian Summer and she was determined to enjoy the last of the warmth before winter would finally come. Her sunny disposition continued throughout the day. She ended up going all the way to Metropolis but she was able to get the state to finally agree to selling the land the hell mouth was located on.

Next she contacted the council to get the plans that were already being drawn up in expectation of when she was able to get the land. They had to use council approved construction workers for the much of the work that was going to be done but Buffy was determined to use as much local help and materials as possible. She wanted the council to have good relations with the local townsfolk.

Then things started turning around for her. First the waitress spilled a whole glass of coke on her white angora sweater. Then her heel snapped off her shoe while walking to the covered parking. Once there she discovered that someone had dinged her car while she was away and didn't even bother leaving a note. On top of all this, she ended up getting a flat tire on her way back to Smallville.

By the time she got the tire changed she was dirty and smelled like old tires. Fortunately the flat held out until she was able to get to a garage where they sold her a new tire and changed the spare at inflated rates. At this point she didn't even care anymore. She simply paid the bill and was determined to get back home and take a shower.

Home. When did she start thinking of Smallville as being her home? She found herself smiling as she considered it. What if she did decide to stay? The new hellmouth would need a senior slayer in command. Not to mention the new branch of WSI she was planning on having built. She could do it. Then she considered whether she would go crazy being so far away from any good clothing stores not to mention shoe stores. However, every time she considered moving on away from Smallville she could see Clark in her minds eye. She was tired of living out of a bag and never settling down. She could do it. Maybe. She just wasn't sure she was meant to be a small town girl.

Finally she pulled into the Kent farm and got out of the car. Hobbling inside she removed her shoes and stealthily made her way to the stairs. She was intent on getting a shower before anyone saw her.

"Buffy you're back! How was your day?" Martha's voice sounded out from behind her.

"Rats." Buffy mumbled to herself and turned to smile at Martha who's eyes widened as they took in the state Buffy was in.

"What happened," Martha asked?

"I had a rough day. I'm just gonna go take a shower." She answered. "Get changed then I will come down to help you with dinner."

"You know you don't have to help with dinner Buffy."

"No, I want to help with it. I am enjoying learning from you Martha." Buffy admitted.

Martha rewarded this statement with a big smile. Having Buffy around was like having the daughter she never had around. It was wonderful to her.

That night they ate a meal of what Martha called Carrot Balls consisting of hamburger, shredded carrots, potatoes, onions, broken up saltines and eggs rolled into little balls then browned then cooked with cream of mushroom soup and sour cream served over rice. Buffy decided she really enjoyed it and wanted to remember how to cook it again later.

Together they laughed as Buffy regaled them with a funny version of what happened to her earlier that day as they did dishes like a family.

"Clark I am going to go patrol if you want to come with me you can or if you want to stay home that is cool too."

"I'm coming Buffy." Clark stated firmly.

Buffy just smiled at him wondering if she should just give in and admit that they were a couple. They spent all their free time together lately.

The cemetery was peaceful and Buffy could sense nothing close by. Turning to Clark she looked at him with doe eyes. "Clark would you do me a big favor?"

"Let me guess you want me to run and get you a coffee?" Clark interrupted. "I'm supposed to be watching your back and I really shouldn't be using super speed except for emergencies."

"It will only take you a couple of minutes depending on how busy they are." Buffy pouted in his direction.

"Alright double chocolate mocha frappacino?"

"With whipped cream and sprinkles please." Buffy stated with a beaming smile.

Clark took just a moment to appreciate that he could do so much more for her and she only occasionally asked him for things. So with a smile and a wink he was gone, across town to the Talon to get them drinks.

"Woot!" Buffy cheered. Then she could feel a little surge of vampire. There were some rising from the grave so Buffy went to sit and wait for them to come forth.

It happened so fast Buffy couldn't believe it. One second she was just sitting down to wait for them to come crawling out of their graves the next she was being attacked by an incredibly fast vampire.

Buffy managed to flip to her feet and kick him away, but he circled her faster than the eye could see. She found herself flying through the air. A stone mausoleum broke her fall and at least one of her ribs. Then the vampire was on top of her laughing like a mad man. Instantly she pulled her reserve stake from her waist band and brought it up aiming for his heart. He grabbed it and kept it from entering his chest, together they struggled like that for a moment. They were matched for strength so Buffy jammed her fingers into his eyes. Instantly he backed off of her and she flipped back to her feet again.

It was then she sensed the two other vampires circling her. Buffy backed away so her back was to the mausoleum and she could see the other vampires.

"Well well what do we have here?" One of the vampires started taunting her as she quickly took stock of her stakes. One on the ground, one in her hand and one last back up in her boot.

"I think it's a little mouse." the other one stated. Buffy's eyes narrowed in anger oh no he didn't just call her little and a mouse! No way was she going to put up with that.

"She is strong." The fast one warned the other two.

"Ah but is she as strong as me?" The third vampire asked stepping forward.

"Be careful my childes she is what we call a vampire slayer."

"Ah but I am not just any slayer, I am THE Slayer. " Buffy corrected him. "And you will all be dust in the wind when I am done with you."

"We will see little mouse we will see." The leader stated. "Kill her slowly."

WIth a flick of her wrist her stake went flying instantly the leader was no more. She was about to make with her traditional quip but the one who claimed to be strong screamed and attacked her before she had the chance.

One blow to the face and Buffy was seeing stars and hoping Clark would be back soon. He was Glory strong and she was fresh out of troll hammers. Together they fought and just as she was starting to get the upper hand the fast vampire joined in sipping up behind her and grabbing her arms. She started to twist to throw him off but the strong one stepped forward and grabbed her hands. She was manacled between the two of them and she desperately fought to escape the hold they had her in. Suddenly two sets of fangs pierced both sides of her throat and she could feel her life's blood being sucked out of her. She was swiftly getting weaker. Desperately she struggled fighting to get free but only managing to tear up her neck in her attempts.

Suddenly both vampires were flying through the air and Clark was holding her gently. He had a look of rage in his eyes she had never seen before.

"Clark, One is super fast and the other is super strong." She managed to slur out as her vision was going dark.

Then the fast one raced in intent on killing Clark. Clark saw him coming and simply punched him. The fast vampire was down and Clark turned to the strong one who was only now getting to his feet.

Gently he set Buffy down and turned to face the one that must be strong. He remembered the guy from High school as one of the meteor infected. Clark thought his name was Brian. He was super strong and apparently out of Belleview and undead. He couldn't let a vampire like that get away.

They stepped forward each punching the other. knocking one another off their feet. Instantly Clark got to his feet again. but Brian was too. zooming in Clark found himself grappling with the vampire. He was comparable in strength to Clark. Together they stumbled and knocked an old willow tree out of the ground. It went flying across the cemetery and landed with a thunk.

Suddenly the vampire he was fighting turned to dust and Buffy staggered forward into Clarks arms.

"Where is the other one," Buffy asked?

Turning to where the last one should be Clark hissed in anger the last one was gone.

Digging into her coat pocket Clark found Buffy's phone.

"Woah, what are you doing?" Buffy asked taking the phone back from him.

"Calling Willow for medical treatment. They made sure I knew what to do if you were ever wounded badly." Clark explained.

"It's not that bad." Buffy argued. "We need to save Willows powers for real emergencies. She might be needed by another slayer or something."

"It's either that or I am taking you to the hospital." Clark pulled his trump card.

"You can't do that, the doctors there don't know about Slayers, I won't be able to explain why I heal so quickly. Can't you just zipp me off home? I just need some bandages and some sleep. " Buffy wheedled.

"Sweet heart you look like you went 10 rounds with a dragon. "

"A dragon wouldn't last until the 10th round against me!"

"Maybe not when you are in normal shape." Clark admitted glad to hear her spunk maybe she wasn't as bad off as she looked. "Let's at least call Willow and see what she says." Clark stated pulling her phone from her hands again.

"Fine health natzi call Wills. but can we at least meet her at your house I'd like to get out of this cemetery in case that fast vampire comes back. "

"I think his name was Justin." Clark admitted. "He was meteor infected and went a little crazy he was supposed to be locked up in Belleview. " Clark stated as he gently picked her up and prepared to speed his way back home.

Clark dialed Willow as he was running and she answered as they walked into the dark house.

"Hey Buffy how are things between you and Clark ? Has he kissed you yet?"

Clark turned a bright red and answered. "Willow it's Clark Buffy was really wounded on patrol tonight She didn't want me to call you but I insisted. "

Willow eeped and blushed a dark shade of red to match her hair herself. but quickly got down to business. "I will be there in two shakes of a jiffy." With that the line went dead and Clark carried Buffy up the stairs.

"Clark is that you and Buffy?" Martha asked walking into the hall ahead of them. She then gasped as she took in the sight of Buffy. Bruised, beaten and bloody Buffy looked like she was just on this side of the veil.

"What happened why haven't you taken her to a hospital?" She demanded. Instantly Jonathon was there too wondering the same thing.

"Um, well." Clark stumbled over his answer, he had no idea what to say.

"It's not as bad as it looks." Buffy answered for him. "My friend Willow is going to be coming by in just a minute and she will check me out. "

"What happened?" Jonathon asked as he opened the door for Clark to take Buffy into his room and set her on the bed.

"We will tell you everything." Buffy decided. "I have been wanting to tell you for a while now. But can explanations wait until tomorrow?" She asked hopefully.

Suddenly Willow appeared in the room and started looking over Buffy.

"What the?" Jonathon exclaimed.

"Where did she come from?" Martha asked "How did she get in here?"

"Magic." Willow said simply Suddenly she started glowing and her hair turned white. "Medicor."

Almost at once Buffy looked better the wounds on her throat closed up. "What happened Buffy I haven't seen you this bad in a long time. What did it to you?"

Buffy winced as she noticed Martha and Jonathon listening, this was not the way she wanted to explain things to them.

Giving Willow a significant look Buffy thought in her head directing it at Willow, 'Super strong super fast vampires. Clark and I got the strong one but the fast one got away. '

'Should we get Faith and her team to come here and take care of it?' Willow asked in her mind.

Buffy nibbled her lip as she considered it.

'I don't know, it was so fast I'm afraid anyone trying to kill it would be in a lot of trouble. '

'we can get it Buffy just rest and recover.' Willow stated in her mind.

"I will go along to help them," Clark spoke up for real showing that Willow was keeping him in the loop.

"Clark honey what are you talking about?" Martha asked.

"Er. well, Buffy is right we will explain everything tomorrow." Clark advised his parents then ushered them out of the room.

"I will go with you." Buffy stated as Clark came back in the door.

"Buffy you need to heal." Clark argued.

"I am going!" She hissed.

"Buffy, Clarks right you need to heal. I just did a basic healing. You are still low of blood and you have a broken rib. "

"If you guys are going to go out looking for that vampire I am going too. Wills you know that I can do it, I have fought in worse shape before."

"But you don't have to Buffy, and you won't not tonight." Willow answered her.

"Wills this is my resolve face." Buffy stated pointing to herself. "It might not be as good as yours but you taught it to me long ago."

"Somnus." Willow replied and Buffy instantly fell asleep.

"Buffy?" Clark asked in shock and fear.

"It's ok Clark. I just put her to sleep. But she is going to be mad at me when she wakes up."

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