A/N: My apologies for the delay- I know I promised last night, but I had internet connection issues for a couple hours, and eventually I just gave up and went to bed. But, it actually turned out alright considering when I went to the coffee shop this morning to write, I ended up completely changing everything I intended to post. Happy accidents, and so on and so forth...

So, without further ado, submitted for your approval- a long, banter filled, Dean-Buffy centric chapter that gets the ball rolling on this supposed relationship I promised.

Also, thanks to BloodyPasion for the super review! And, I apologize for what I assume are the massive load of typos. It's 3 AM, and I only re-read this once. I just could not wait to post this!

Sometimes, Buffy desperately missed The Magic Box—a veritable library with unlimited information, on-demand supply of magic ingredients, and most importantly, a space for some proper training. But, since they had none of these things on the level to which they had been formally accustomed, Buffy had learned to become much more flexible. And, by flexible, she meant breaking into places and stealing stuff. Which is why when Dean suggested they find a place to trial run the amulet, she did not hesitate when he further suggested breaking into "some old warehouse". The apartment she was currently sharing with Willow would have to do for now.

"I called Faith again, and as usual, had to leave a message," Willow stated, providing Buffy with an update, "But, I just got off the phone with Xander. The best they can do is a Red-Eye. They'll be here sometime in the morning."

"It's nice that you're includin' the "One Eyed Wonder" in our shenanigans," Spike added from the comfort of the couch, where he reclined enjoying a warm mug of blood and a black and white movie, "It's nice to give him small jobs, make him feel important."

"Careful what you say about Buffy's brother-in-law," Willow warned, smiling as she anticipated Spike reaction.

"Brother-in-law?" Spike groaned, "You let the 'Little Bit' marry the 'Useless Git'?"

"Speaking of useless…" Buffy dropped a couple of dusty tomes on the couch next to him, "Why don't you make yourself less of that?"

"Research?" Spike laughed arrogantly, "I'm the muscle, pet," he stretched out his legs, pushing the books towards the edge of the cushion with, intending them to hit the floor, "I don't do research."

"Apparently, you don't do directions either," She spat, catching the books and dropping them on his stomach, which would have been much more satisfying if he required oxygen, "because, I remember using the exact words 'If he moves, stake him'."

"He overpowered me," Spike lied, "Besides, who's going to help you test the amulet?"

"Oh, stuck with the books? My condolences." Dean's hand clapped down on Spike's shoulder like he had done to Dean just hours ago, "Don't worry, Blondie Bear, she's in good hands."

"You told—" Spike sneered, cutting himself off before he got in more trouble, "Bad form, Buffy."

"Don't take it so hard," Dean added sympathetically, "Research is important—plus, it's not as safe as you would think. You might get a paper cut."

"Pretty Boy is gonna end up with a bloody nose if he doesn't watch his mouth…" Spike cautioned, "Wouldn't it be a terrible shame if I just couldn't control myself with all that blood gushin' everywhere…"

"Simmer down, boys," Buffy brought her hands up between them, shoving Dean back away from the couch, "Save some of that unbridled testosterone for demons."

A knock on the door drew them apart. Arriving with a good portion of his personal library, along with a few books he "procured" from a university, Bobby was a welcome sight for the Winchesters. None more happy than Dean, who was finally reunited with his precious Impala. With their jobs assigned, no matter how reluctantly, and their reserves arriving, Buffy and Dean left to find a clear space to test the amulet- or in other words, to go break into an abandoned warehouse. There was no telling what she would do with the lift provided by the amulet. Part of her worried she might end up leveling half of Cleveland. Another part of her hoped she might get back the ability to fly, because let's just be honest, that was just fucking cool. But, the memory of that incident made her think of Angel, and suddenly the thrill was out of it. It took some wandering around, made easier this time with the use of the Impala, and eventually they found a space in a rundown industrial park that appeared would properly serve their purposes. Through the window, the inside looked dark and dank, but there was enough space that she wouldn't destroy anything more than some abandoned manufacturing equipment.

"I'm just saying," Dean continued the conversation that he had started some time ago, and apparently just could not let go, "Souls or not, I don't trust vampires."

"At the risk of sounding like an angsty tween protagonist, Angel and Spike were different," Buffy argued.

"In that they, being vampires, betrayed you several times after you ignored your Vampire Slayer instinct?" Dean's condescending tone was partially muffled as he fought with the lock of the exterior door.

"Dean, it was… complicated, alright. I refuse to believe you've never relied on adversarial assistance once or twice."

"Not if I could help it," Dean contested.

"So, in other word, yes. Yes, you have," Buffy stated confident in her assessment.

"Actually," He hesitated as the locking mechanism clicked loose, "I think Sam's mixed up with a demon by the name of Ruby. And, if I'm right, she's definitely complicating things."

Dean opened the door letting Buffy pass through into the interior, and she clicked the button on her flashlight.

"Don't trust her?"

"She's feeding Sam demon blood."

"Gross," Buffy made her whiskey ick face, and scanned around with her narrow beam of light, "Why?"

"It's a long story," Dean sighed clicking on his own flashlight and moving in the opposite direction.

"Well, then I certainly don't want to hear it," Buffy replied, "… said no one ever upon hearing that excuse."

"Can we just find the fuse box?" Dean pleaded.

In her ever obliging way, Buffy planted her feet and crossed her arms.

"I'll hold my breath if I have too."

"C'mon…"

Buffy inhaled deeply, puffing out her cheeks for dramatic emphasis.

"That's unbelievably childish, Buffy," Dean rolled his eyes, "I mean how old are—LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!"

Immediately dropping to the ground, Buffy's eyes searched the darkness, ready to attack and gasping for air. But, not as much as Dean was in between laughing fits.

"Dean Winchester, epitome of maturity," She huffed, brushing the dirt from her clothes.

"Damn… side cramp" he wiped away a tear, still fighting the urge to laugh, "That was priceless."

"Alright, wise ass," Buffy shoved him towards the wall, "There's the box. Get the lights on so I can teach you a lesson."

After some finagling of wires, and possibly creating a fire hazard, the lights popped and crackled on.

"Let's take my new toy for a test drive," Buffy fought with the clasp, but her nails made it difficult. Defeated she handed it towards Dean, "Do you mind? I'm terrible with these things."

Dropping the amulet from her hand, she lifted her long blonde hair off her shoulders. Sliding the chain delicately around her neck, Dean attached the claw end to the loop. Buffy pretended not to notice how his fingertips grazed the soft skin of her neck, or the electricity that it sent shooting down her back. Dean pretended not to notice the enticing scent of cherry-vanilla shampoo that wafted into the air as she let her hair drop back onto her shoulders. Instead, he stepped back and raised an eyebrow.

"Well?"

"I don't feel any different," she frowned.

As the words finished leaving her mouth Dean was already swinging. Reacting the second her eyes registered the movement, her reaction time was instant. Suddenly, her body was in complete overdrive. Her pupils dilated, and every muscle in her body felt like it was part of a machine. She blocked swing after swing, twisting his arm behind his back.

"Um, Buffy, mind the arm socket," Dean mentioned, trying his best not to sound like a giant wuss suffering incredible pain, which was more to the case then he would let on.

"This is for that little stunt," she stated.

"I'm serious," his tone a little more stern.

"Tell me about Sam, and I'll let you go," she replied matter-of-factly.

"When you take that amulet off, I swear… ow, ow, god damn woman! Fine!"

Buffy eased a bit on the pressure.

"Sam's part demon," he admitted, albeit, unwillingly.

Buffy released him completely.

"Seriously?" Buffy questioned, "Your brother's part demon, and you were giving me shit? Hypocrite, much?"

"It's not like it was Sam's choice…"

"Yeah... I couldn't volunteer fast enough to be the slayer," Buffy retorted

"Look," Dean could not believe he was going to tell her this, "When he was six months old, a demon came to collect on a deal my mom made to save my dad's life… which he lost thanks to same said douchebag demon- but, instead of collecting her soul, he killed her and fed little Sammy a mouthful of demon blood. Flash forward twenty-two years, and he started having these visions. Then, next thing you know, this Ruby chick shows up and convinces him to use his powers 'for the good'," he used her own words against her mockingly, "Which basically means juicing up on demon blood until he does things that scare the shit outta me. I mean, when he's on that stuff… he exorcised a demon, with his fucking mind!"

Treading carefully, with Castiel's words in her mind, she hesitantly asked, "That's how you died, isn't it? Trying to save Sam."

"How do you know about that?" Dean questioned uncomfortably.

"A little bird told me..." she shrugged.

"A little bird wearing a trench coat," Dean grumbled.

"If it makes you feel better, my sister's the living embodiment of a key to an interdimensional portal," Buffy stated empathetically, "Except, they made her from my DNA," she rolled her eyes in sheer frustration, "So, guess who had to jump into the portal as the blood sacrifice, and stop a primordial god and the ensuing Apocalypse…" Buffy realized she was rambling.

"Being the oldest's a bitch, ain't it?"

That almost made her snort.

"Amen to that," she agreed, lighting her face with a smile.

That's when Dean realized he was in trouble. Crap. This… this felt different. Normally, with a chick this attractive Dean was busting out his fake badges and his best pickup lines. But, Buffy, this was… different. It was refreshing having someone onto which he could unload the drama of his very unorthodox life, and not have to explain that, by the way, every scary thing imaginable exists. There was something appealing to that. Except, he had sacred unattached drifter street cred to uphold here. This was bad. It was about then that he noticed her lips moving, but he had not heard a word she had said.

"What?"

"I'm sorry… am I boring you?" She smirked.

Dean flashed his infamous smug smile, "Well, to be honest, this isn't the most exciting thing that's happened today."

"True. I mean, really, what could possibly follow Spike without his shirt on?"

"You know I am not above hitting a girl," Dean reminded, "Especially one that can take a punch like a champ."

"I'd like to see you try, hot shot."

A fake to the left did not trick Buffy, and she blocked his swing from the right by ducking under, spinning around, and jabbing him in the kidney.

"I'll try to mind your gents this time," She teased, shifting on her feet from left to right, and throwing a punch into his diaphragm.

It was like getting hit by a truck. Dean went collapsing towards the floor, but he managed to sweep a kick and knock her legs out from underneath her. Compensating before she even hit the floor, Buffy sprung backwards into a full handspring, and landed flat a few feet away. Circling her cautiously, Dean's eyes bounced to anticipate her next move. It was futile—the amulet made her insufferably fast. A few more dodged swings, and Dean was panting.

"Had enough yet?" she winked.

"Just getting started, Darlin'" He replied, giving her a devilish grin.

Charging at her, Dean collided hard against her head first, wrapping his arms around her waist and taking her to the ground like a linebacker. That succeeded in knocking the wind from her chest, and some part of him felt satisfied with that much.

"Still human then," He declared, pulling his face up to gloat.

As she struggled to regain her bearings, the scent of Dean Winchester consumed her. His fragrance was a strangely intoxicating mix of gun powder and aftershave, and just the slightest hint of motor oil. This was the last thing she needed right now—especially considering her two ex-boyfriends were in town… yeah, Dean was going to love that when he found out. But… then again, she could not help noticing that for all his rough edges, something about his lips seemed soft. Not to mention that alluring look in his green eyes. ... Were those freckles? Oh dear god, the boy had freckles.

Dean, on the other hand, could not help but notice how rockin' her cleavage was in such close proximity to his face.

Had Buffy been privy to Dean's thoughts at that moment, she might not have made this her next move. Taking a risk, especially on a guy she had just met last night-if you could call a shot in the groin an introduction- Buffy drew up and met his smirking lips. What the hell, right? Lilith was coming, and she could die at any minute. Eventually, she was going to stop getting "Get Out of Jail Free" cards for those little detours. Immediately, she felt stupid and regretted this decision, and every rational part of her brain was screaming ABORT! Yet, he just went with it, and because of that, Buffy allowed herself the simple pleasure of enjoying this. In a pleasingly unexpected way, Dean's kisses were gentle and sensual—not forceful like she had expected.

"Am I interrupting?" Castiel's voice echoed around them in the empty metal box of the warehouse.

Slowly, Dean lifted his head in disbelief, frustration toning his voice, "You're killing me, Cas!"

"Pardon me, Dean," Castiel frowned, retorting flatly, "Let me apologize for ruining your pre-marital coitus while the Apocalypse erupts around you."

"Aaaaand," Buffy announced, trying to slide out from under Dean, "The moment is gone."