Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Bliss Cavendar was bone tired. Every muscle in her body ached. After Buffy had left, Faith and Kennedy had continued to work the slayers, even those with experience, and hadn't let up for three more hours. Now the sun was setting, and they'd been released to shower and get ready for dinner.

"How you doin' girl?" Rosemary, aka Rosa Sparks, asked.

Bliss looked at her fellow derby doll and grinned in exhaustion. "I thought Iron Maven was a tough bitch."

Rosa chuckled, "Shit girl, derby girls are tough, but they don't got squat on Slayers… this is a whole new game."

"Did I hear you ladies right? Were you part of a roller derby team?"

Both girls looked up to find the bright eyed brunette, Rachel Berry looking at them with a wide grin. Bliss blinked. She wasn't used to girls like Rachel smiling at her in a friendly fashion. "That's right," she couldn't help the defensive tone to her voice.

"That's so cool," awe entered the singer's voice. "I wish I had half the courage to do something so brave."

Bliss snorted. "Please, you get up and sing in front of everyone."

"And that voice of yours is amazing," Rosa added.

"Thanks," Rachel blushed slightly. "Of course, that's not nearly so important anymore, but I appreciate you saying so. I'm Rachel."

"Bliss… and this is Rosa."

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Gunn reviewed the clipboard silently before setting it down and moving the same box for the third time. Once he got the back up medical supply closet organized he'd be satisfied, and only then would he move on to something else. He could have left it to one of the other; say one of the doctors or nurses, but he was one of the people who kept track of supplies when going out on supply runs, so to him it made since to be the one to organize and make a master list. Then he'd leave it to the others.

He was startled when the door opened and someone slid into the closet, shutting the door leaving them in darkness. He cleared his throat to break the silence.

"Um, yeah…" a female voice sighed.

"I'm going to turn on the light now."

"No," she hissed. "Don't do that!"

"Why not?" She couldn't see his raised eyebrow.

"Because you might draw attention to the closet," she told him in a tone that bespoke of his stupidity.

"Is there a reason why we can't bring attention to the closet?"

The woman huffed, and a moment later there was a flick, and a lighter lit, the flame illuminating the face of Sara McGee. "I don't want my brother or his friends, mainly his boss to know where I am. They want me to learn how to shoot a gun."

"And?"

"I don't want to shoot a gun!"

"Hate to tell you this, but they have the right idea. These days it ain't safe to not know how to use one. You have to know how to take care of yourself."

She looked at him silently. "You've never had to learn anything from one Leroy Jethro Gibbs… it's like being taught from your father," she drew out the word. "You're disappointed, Marine corp, father… if I do it wrong he'll be all disappointed in me… I can't take that kind of disappointment. My own dad didn't even get disappointed in me like that guy does," she muttered.

"He cares."

"I know," she sighed.

Charles hid a smile. "You want me to teach you."

Interest entered her face. "Really? You'd do that? You don't even know me?"

"Sure, but you're one of us now… and you need to know how to take care of yourself… I can teach you."

Now she smiled at him. "Please?"

He gave one last look at his clipboard before putting it down. "All right. Let's go."

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"What are you doing?"

Neal turned to see El looking at him. He hadn't been doing anything really, just looking out one of the walls of windows, watching the training going on below him. It wasn't like he hadn't done anything all day. He had spent some time going over some maps with Rupert Giles and Christie Allen, locating items of both wealth and interest; items that could be one of a kind or could end up being an asset to them at some point. It had been Christie Allen who'd pulled Caffrey to Giles' attention.

"Just taking a break. You?"

"Going to get something to eat… Buffy and Faith are sticklers for slayers keeping up their strength; especially pregnant slayers," she said lightly.

Neal turned vivid blue eyes on the brunette. "I'll come with you… It's a good idea… to eat." The two were quiet as they moved. "Did he know… Peter? Did he know about the baby?"

El managed to keep her tears inside. "I had just found out. I was going to tell him at lunch, but didn't get a chance… now, I'm glad I didn't. He never knew. But he didn't die knowing, Peter, and I'm glad for that."

Neal nodded slowly. "I guess I understand that. I'm here for you… whatever you need… if you need anything…"

El smiled softly. "Thank you, Neal. You're a good friend to me, and a good friend to Peter. I don't know everything that's happening, but I do know that we were spared because we both have a destiny…"

They were interrupted by an argument just down the hall.

"Do I look like I need more medical tests?" the gorgeous brunette snapped, striding away from the small group following after her.

"Ms. Chase, you were in a coma for over a year," Lisa Cuddy tried using logic on the woman. "Yes, you seem perfectly healthy, but we just want to make sure you aren't suffering from any ill effects from that time."

"That's right, I was in that Hells damned coma for OVER A YEAR, there is no way I am going through any more tests. I have been poked and prodded and I am done. I want to have my life back. You have my word that if I get hurt then you will be the first people I find." Her back was to them, and without noticing, she stepped backwards and into Neal Caffrey's arms. Her eyes shot open in surprise, and she twisted to look up at him.

"Hi," he grinned down at her, still holding on.

"Hi," she smiled back.

"You heard Cordy," Xander told the doctor's, his hand gripping Tina Armstrong's. "No tests. Willow did a magic diagnostic and said she's fine. If she needs something she'll come to you. Until then, she's had enough of the white coats."

Lisa, and James Wilson, who'd been walking with her, held up their hands in resignation. "Ok," Lisa sighed. "But please, if you have any pain or dizziness, please find one of us." Then the two turned and walked away.

"Are you sure you're feeling all right?" Neal asked the woman in his arms.

Cordy didn't know why she hadn't moved away, but all she'd done was twist until she was facing him. "I'm fine. Restless, actually."

"Why were you in a coma?"

The two had begun to speak softly and barely noticed as Xander, Tina and El walked away.

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Warren and Will moved towards the vegetable gardens at a leisurely pace. Everything in their world had been chaotic and fast paced at the end, and now that they had a chance for a short amount of peace they took it.

Will couldn't help the smile that swept his face as soon as he saw Layla pushing her power into the plants bursting up through the ground. Dawn Summers stood next to his lady love, and she too smiled brightly, but her smile turned into a smirk as soon as she caught sight of Warren.

"Gentlemen," she greeted them as they approached.

"Summers," Warren scowled.

"Hey, Dawn, hey, Layla," Will leaned in and kissed his girl on her cheek.

"Didn't the house-elves do a fabulous job on the gardens?" Layla asked, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

"And that's my que to take off. I need to do some research anyway," Dawn shrugged.

"Research?" Peace sneered.

"Not everyone gets to stand around looking pretty, Peace," Dawn simply looked him up and down letting him know what she thought of him. Something about him just rubbed her the wrong way. He had bad attitude written all over him. "I get to look gorgeous and be highly intelligent." Giving him a smug smile she spun on her heel and headed back up to the hotel.

"God that chick has issues," he muttered.

"You like her," Will teased his friend. "You know you do. And I give you good odds she likes you too, she just has no idea how to tell you she does. You should make a move on her. Before someone beats you to it."

When it looked like Warren was going to say something acidic, Layla beat him to it. "Will's totally right. Especially since there aren't any guys as cool as you are here. Dawn couldn't do as good as you. So, instead of being all scowly, you should try being nice, saying something sweet to her and seeng if she might actually give you the time of day."

Warren gave them both one more cross look before heading off after the tall brunette who'd entered their lives just days before. She might drive him crazy and annoy the piss out of him, but they were right… he sure did like her.