Title: Segue

Summary: What we all need

Warnings: none

Spoilers: BtVS:Into the Woods

Acknowledgment: My thanks and appreciation to Theo for his many helpful suggestions and beta reading skills.


Part 5b: Somebody To Lean On (continued)

Four Scoobies stood at the lip of the furrow plowed up by the meteorite that Tara and Willow had spotted an hour ago. Several yards away through the trees Riley and Giles were kneeling by the body of a dead man they'd found a few minutes earlier. Although they were inspecting the body closely they kept anxiously peering into the woods.

"Explain again why Buffy's not here?" asked Xander, stomping his feet to hide his nervousness.

"She has to be with her mom!" Willow curtly admonished Xander. "We'll just figure this out ourselves, right? We're experienced." Willow said in an overly chipper voice, at odds with the creepiness of the situation.

"When was the last time you--we--dealt with the creature from the dark side of the moon?" snipped Cordelia, also nervously looking about.

Riley stood up and he and Giles rejoined the group. "This is definitely new territory." He slowly scanned a full three-hundred and sixty degrees around, trying to divine any danger that might still be inhabiting the forest.

"Perhaps we should explore a bit more, head into the woods a bit," offered Giles, though he seemed less than eager to follow his own suggestion. Fingers of fog blowing in from the nearby ocean were infiltrating between the trees, making it much more difficult to see than Giles would have liked.

Riley was a bit more eager. "You guys have lived here all your lives. You should know you way around these woods pretty well."

Xander and the others just gave him baleful glares. "Yeah, that's before we knew what lurked in the woods unlovely, dark and deep, just waiting for fresh meat to wander by." Xander gave Riley a disgusted look before he broke off and took a step back towards were they had left the cars. "Who votes research? Yeah, do we have a quorum?" He raised both hands.

"Oh, I'm all over the research," said Willow quickly. Tara raised her hand and Giles bobbed his head.

Riley stood still, looking about. "I'm not so great with the research. I think I'll stay here, Quincy the body some more, look around a little." He smiled grimly. "I like me a good crime scene."

Xander was concerned for his friend as he stepped up close while the others started on their way. "You're not trying to get us non-combatants out of the way while you go mano-a-mano off the reservation here, are you, desperado?"

Riley had to smile at all the mixed metaphors Xander could pack onto one short sentence. "No, no, I'm just not great at research, which I'm sure you guys figured out by now."

Xander gave Riley a speculative look for another second and then nodded his head. "C'mon, Cordy." He shoved both hands into his pockets and started after the others, who were already cresting the hill.

"You guys go on. I'll stay and keep checking out stuff with Riley."

Xander nearly tripped over himself, very surprised and then very confused. Riley looked shocked as well. "Cordy?" tentatively asked Xander.

Cordelia shrugged. "I never cared much for the researching either."

Xander's eyes shifted back and forth between Cordelia, who seemed perfectly at ease, and Riley, whose face was contorting through a number of expressions.

"You sure? It's warm back at the shop. And this cold, dry air isn't good for the complexion. You must have told me that a million--"

"Cordelia," broke in Riley, "I think Xander's right. You'd be a lot more comfortable back indoors."

Cordelia glanced at Riley. "No, I'm good. This is a very warm coat." She returned her attention to Xander. "Go on. I'll be fine."

Xander thought for a moment and then reached into his jacket. "Willow is number two on the speed-dial. Call if anything...," he looked once more at the dark and surrounding woods and shuddered slightly, "comes up." Xander handed his cell phone to her and hustled to catch up with the others.

"Let's look around," Cordelia said to Riley once Xander had turned to leave.

"It's dark, maybe there's vampires or something around."

To Cordelia, even as sinister as things seemed, Riley appeared more agitated than the situation truly deserved. She patted him on the shoulder as she passed by him on her way back to the meteorite. "Nothing I'm sure you can't handle."

Riley hurried after her. "You really should go with them. It's for your own safety."

"Thank you. I'll stay," she said sweetly, but quite firmly.

"Fine." Riley growled, finally giving up. "Check out around that capsule for anything unusual we might have missed."

Cordelia grinned. "You mean more unusual than monsters from outer-space?"

"Just look around anyway. I'm going to examine the body some more." He waited and watched Cordelia walk off before he returned to the body.

He knelt down by the dead man and, taking another look around to verify Cordelia wasn't near, pulled out his cell phone and quickly tapped in a number from memory. Riley began talking as soon as the connection was made. "I need to speak to the duty officer." He waited while the call was transferred. "This is Age--this is Finn, Riley Finn. You have an Agent Miller, Graham Miller, he'll tell you who ... Yes. Emergency Sit. 1. You can get the location off this phone." He listened for a few more seconds then snapped the phone shut and slipped it back into his pocket. Riley settled back on his heels, heaved a big sigh to match the sigh of the breeze through the trees, and looked up through the branches, every now and then seeing twinkling sky through gaps in the fog.

"Friends of yours?"

Riley jumped and whirled around. He hadn't heard Cordelia move up behind him.

"Oh! Uh, no! It's--um. It's--I was talking to some...farm." He flailed in the face of Cordelia's increasingly skeptical and accusing glare. "Family. My family. They have a farm. In Iowa--did you know I was from Iowa?" He forced a chuckle. "We talk." He took out and held up his phone and tried to smile. "On the phone. They have an emergency situation. Um, Bossy--one of our cows--she's not feeling well." He was glad it was at least dark enough Cordelia couldn't see the color of his face too well, because he felt it reddening by the second.

"I'm no Mary the Milkmaid, but I don't think farms usually have a duty officer."

"The sump pump in the basement isn't working?" Riley tried weakly.

"Save it! You're just making yourself look stupid. And we've got Xander for that. Why did you call in your old friends?"

By now Riley had learned to respect Cordelia well enough not to continue arguing such a patently ridiculous point. He implicitly acknowledged that respect by continuing in a straight-forward and honest manner. "We've dealt with LGMs before."

"LGMs?"

"Little Green Men." Riley waved at the furrow, where some smoke still continued to waft out. "It's happened before and we're on it."

"We are?"

"I mean, they are." A wistful expression came over Riley. "Guys I used to work with."

Cordelia gave Riley a measuring look. "Buffy wouldn't have called in help." She smiled grimly when Riley tensed and slowly stretched to his full height. He was practically scowling. Bingo, she thought.

"Well, I'm not Buffy," Riley said with some force. "I am the one on the scene and it's my call. Next time Buffy can do what she wants."

"Including handling it herself?" Cordelia asked in a surprisingly gentle manner.

Riley sighed, looked down and took a long time answering, digging at the ground with his booted toe. When he looked up at Cordelia, he saw a calm expression of acceptance, and felt an odd sense of trust in her. He still didn't know her well, and what little he did know wasn't very positive, but somehow he felt he could trust that she would never lie to him, or shade the truth, or try and soften the blow just to make him feel better. "She's Slayer, comma The. She doesn't really need anyone, does she?"

"That's one view." Cordelia's tone was neutral.

"Y'know, she never asks me for help, not in anything that really matters. And she seems almost...I don't know--angry?--when I try anyway. Like I'm just getting in the way."

"And you want to be the dashing knight, charging in on his noble steed to save poor lady-fair?" Cordelia raised an eyebrow, giving Riley a challenging expression. "I hate to inform you, Sir Lancelot, but we left the Middle-Ages and simpering damsels behind at least a few hundred years ago. You really should learn to deal with it."

Riley shook his head. "No, no, no! I'm not talking about her being dependent on me, waiting for me to save the day. I like that she's strong. I like that she's take-charge girl. But it doesn't have to mean I can't help, either. It's-it's about helping each other, y'know, when things get rough. People help each other." His eyes fell again. "But she doesn't want mine."

Riley seemed overly fascinated by his efforts to dig another furrow in the ground with his foot as he waited for another scathing comment from Cordelia. When he didn't get one he asked, "What am I doing here? Why am I staying around? Am I just the mission's boyfriend?" he wondered, echoing Graham's parting words.

Cordelia felt the weight of his questions. She wanted to give him something positive, but she couldn't. "I really don't know."

Riley shrugged; he hadn't expected anything else. "No visions for me? Nothing to tell my future?"

"Sorry. I don't get to decide when they come. I just tell someone else who does the heavy champion's work."

The reference reminded Riley of something. "Champions, hmmm? You worked with Angel, right? And you knew them when they were together, him and Buffy?"

Cordelia frowned and nodded, not caring for the reminder of her previous employer. The bitterness had mostly faded, but not entirely.

"So let me ask you something. She would die for him. What is it he gave her that I'm not? If it weren't for that curse they'd still be together, wouldn't they? Now and forever?"

"Maybe. That's a tough call." Cordelia tried to set aside her personal feelings as she reviewed the highlights of the Buffy-Angel saga in her head. "I honestly don't know. The were a regular roller-coaster of sickening soap-opera passion. Nothing middle of the road for them. It was very annoying. How long that would have lasted...?" Cordelia shrugged.

Riley frowned and nodded his head. "And that's me to a T. Middle of the road guy. Not great, not bad. Just there." He sighed as he leaned down and scooped up a rock, turning it over in his hand. "Always there." Riley suddenly winged the rock into the forest, hearing it clop off an unseen tree trunk.

After standing silently for a few more seconds Riley gave a short bark of laughter. "Roller-coasters and Angel. Can't say I picture that." Cordelia also tried to picture it and she soon laughed along with him.

When they settled down she touched him on the elbow to get his attention and spoke gently. "Maybe you're not the long haul guy. Maybe you are. Does she love you? Can she love you the way you want? I don't know the answers, Riley. But so what? There's now and there's tomorrow. And given the expected life-time of a slayer I think that's all you should expect. You need to cut her some slack. Or a lot. And even if Buffy doesn't see it I do think we need you."

Riley was astonished by Cordelia's solicitous attitude. She was still a virtual stranger after all these weeks, someone who had no reason to care about him and his petty personal issues with Buffy. He didn't reply for several long seconds. If even she thought he was worth having around then, well, maybe things weren't so bad after all.

But the good feeling and sense of self-worth that Cordelia had fostered suddenly collapsed when he understood a basic truth of their situation in Sunnydale. "What can I do that Buffy, or you guys, don't already do?"

Cordelia was ready for that question. "You're not a slayer, so why do things like a slayer? Just contribute what you can and know that it makes a difference."

"And is there a for-instance behind door number three?"

"You fight."

Riley looked puzzled. "Buffy's the fighter."

Cordelia waved impatiently. "Leave her out of this. You've had training, right? You're a Marine, or something? You've had combat training?"

"Army, actually. Rangers," he answered in a self-deprecating tone. "The Initiative was an inter-disciplinary unit. Like Delta Force."

"Whatever. The point is, you know how to fight against demons. Punch, kick, block, that sort of stuff?"

"Yeah."

"Well?"

"Well, what?" Riley couldn't see where Cordelia was going with this.

"Show us. Teach us. As in everything you know."

Riley looked at Cordelia with a dubious expression. "Th-that can take a long time. And a lot of painful work. And you guys already seem to do pretty well."

"But we could do better. You could at least show us some basics, couldn't you? At least some defensive stuff? Buffy never has. Neither has Giles."

"Yeah, that is kinda odd." Riley nodded his head slowly as he thought about it. "Are you serious about this?"

"Absolutely."

"All right, it's an interesting idea." Riley almost smiled. "I'll--I'll give it some thought." He nodded to himself as he continued to stare at Cordelia.

"What?"

"You're all about the honesty, right? No-holds-barred, no matter how tactless or painful?"

Cordelia smiled a little self-consciously. "Pretty much. I've been working on the delivery."

"Then do you mind if I ask you something?"

Cordelia gestured for him to go on.

"Why the friendly? We hardly know each other, and yet tonight we've spoken more than in all the weeks you've been in Sunnydale. I just always thought you were a, uh, kind of selfish bi--abe. Babe."

"That'll be 'Queen Bitch' to you," she corrected him, grinning. "I'm not offended." Her smile diminished and her expression became more sober. "You could say I've grown up a bit since most of these guys knew me; I'm not so much with the selfish anymore. But if it makes you feel more comfortable then just think that it's all about keeping me safe. The more you're around to help kill demons, to help keep Buffy sane, to train us, the safer I'll be."

Riley was about to say something when he suddenly looked up at the sky.

Cordelia followed his gaze but didn't see anything. "What is it?"

"It sounds..." He cocked his head a bit and then she heard it too. "They're here." He pointed toward the southwest and they saw the strobing anti-collision lights of a flight of helicopters cresting the rise.

They waited in silence at the edge of the nearest clearing as the three helicopters landed in tight formation. Riley strode toward the first commando to jump out. Cordelia trailed behind, quickly putting her hand over her head to keep the rotor downwash from blowing her hair into tangles.

The wind quickly dissipated as the blades slowed and the engines whined to a stop.

"That was fast. I only called a few minutes ago," said Riley.

"You Finn?" demanded the newcomer.

"Yeah." Riley didn't introduce Cordelia.

"Major Ellis." He stuck his hand out and Riley shook it. "I'm in charge of this op. We were already on our way." Ellis peered around at the woods. "What's the situation? Just the one civilian casualty?"

"That I know of."

One of the other commandos joined them and Riley looked him up and down. "Graham," he greeted without emotion. The four of them stood awkwardly for a few seconds.

Ellis shouted back at the group already half unloaded from the helicopters. "Smith! Squad A with me. B and C scout out the perimeter. No more than 200 meters in. Report anything." He addressed Riley. "Which way, Agent?"

Riley didn't bother to point out he was in fact an "ex-" agent. He pointed back the way he and Cordelia had come and all four of them started in the indicated direction. Ellis led, followed by Riley and Graham and then Cordelia, who had remained silent ever since the commandos had landed.

Graham nudged Riley with his elbow. "Where's super-girlfriend, Rye? Doesn't she normally handle this kind of thing for you?" Graham had said it lightly but the heat in Riley's sudden glare caused him to raise his hands and edge back a little. He slowed down to walk side-by-side with Cordelia. He looked over at her with a puzzled expression. "You seem familiar. Do I know you?"

"I was at the hospital the night Spike attacked you."

"Oh, that's right, you're Xander's girl."

Cordelia's eyes narrowed dangerously. She bit out the words one by one. "I. Am. Not. Xander's. Girl!" For the second time Graham found himself backing off and he quickened his pace to rejoin Riley.

Riley chuckled. "You really need to learn to stop talking so much, Graham."

"Yeah! She's even scarier than Buffy," muttered Graham, taking a quick glance back at Cordelia.

They arrived at the body and Ellis squatted down to take a closer look.

"I wouldn't touch that stuff in his mouth if I were you," warned Riley.

Ellis was unperturbed, but did as Riley said. "Toxic?"

"No, just messy. Guy seems to have simply choked on the stuff. Near as I can tell, it's some kind of protein alkaloid. It was a lot thicker a few minutes ago."

Ellis stood. "Fit the profile of anything you're familiar with?"

Riley shook his head. Cordelia, though slightly intimidated by Ellis' brusque and commanding manner, spoke up. "Whatever it was, it came out of that." Ellis saw she was pointing at the furrow several dozen yards away.

Other than that, Ellis ignored her off and spoke again to Riley. "Yeah, we got a heads-up from NORAD." He stood up and led them to the rock at the end of the trench. "Miller, set the trackers for a protein signature."

"Yes sir." Graham trotted off to get everything set up.

"I don't think that'll work, Major," Riley said, "This alkaloid's breaking down at an accelerated rate." He pointed at the fluid dribbling out the corners of the dead man's mouth. "It's already practically turned into water. I think it's dissolving too fast to track."

"Hold up, Miller," Ellis shouted while still looking at Riley. "You got a better idea?"

"Came from space. Maybe some trace radiation?"

Ellis thought for a moment. "We have Geiger counters in the packs." He nodded to Graham. "Let's break 'em out."

Graham ran off and came back a few minutes later, burdened with several instruments. "We've got enough for each team to have--"

Cordelia's head whipped back as her body convulsed first one way and then the other. Her eyes rolled back, showing only the whites, and her eyelids fluttered as she began keening in pain.

"Cordelia!" shouted Riley. He moved barely in time to keep Cordelia from thrashing into the ground as she tried to hold her head with both hands. He held onto her as she alternately screamed and moaned. Riley gently lowered her down to rest her head on his legs as he knelt. Someone shouted for a medic and people were soon racing around behind him. Riley, recognizing the symptoms, said, "That won't be necessary."

After several long moments of convulsions that slowly abated Cordelia settled down and held out her hands. "Get me up," she moaned, eyes closed tight. Once Riley had stood her up she remained leaning against him and finally opened one of her eyes. Riley took Tylenol from the medic and gave her a canteen from one of the others.

"A vision, right?" asked Riley.

"A what?" demanded Ellis, who had been silently observant during Cordelia's episode.

Riley turned to look at the Major, unsure what to say or even how much he should reveal. He glanced at Cordelia for some guidance but she was in no shape to help. "Never mind right now. It's-it's just a thing. She'll have some information for us."

"It's--ewww!" Cordelia's face contorted in reaction to the remembered image of the large roach-like demon.

"An Ewww Demon?" Riley looked confused.

Cordelia started to roll her eyes but the pain of even that slight motion stopped her. "No! Jesus, you're pathetic. I have got to stop having these visions when you're around." She took another sip of the offered water. "It's like a giant cockroach, about four feet long, and it's crawling on the ceiling. A white room. It's very white, and beds, lots of beds, like, like--"

"A hospital?" asked someone.

"Yeah, that's it! It's a hospital. It's headed toward the hospital!" She recalled some more details from her vision. "Must be the psych ward, I think. It's full of people. We've got to go."

"What the hell is this?!" demanded Ellis. "We haven't finished our work here."

Riley looked the Major square in the eyes. "I don't have time to explain it now. But the, the...vi--information she gets is to be trusted. Completely."

"You trust her?"

Riley glanced over at Cordelia, seeing the strength slowly return to her, then turned back toward Ellis. "Absolutely," he answered with a firm nod.

Ellis stared at Riley for another moment and then at Cordelia who, despite her improved condition, still looked like she could barely maintain her balance. But Ellis had seen his fair share of the un-explainable and was more willing than most people his age and rank to accept it at face value.

He blinked once and decided. "Let's move, people!" he shouted. Ellis called to the helo pilots and circled his arms, then he radioed out. "C stays here. Finish the re-con. A and B are airborne." Soon commandos were filtering back in, jumping into the waiting choppers.

Still holding on to Cordelia, Riley asked, "Can you move, Cordelia? Or do you need to sit and rest? One of the guys can stay and watch over you."

"No, I can move. Just don't jitter around so much." Riley carefully helped her to the nearest chopper. She stopped and looked at it warily. "I've never been in a helicopter before. Is this thing safe?"

Riley had to smile. "You fight demons on a daily basis and you're worried if this thing is safe?"

Cordelia smiled in return. "Good point. We better get going, I don't think we have a lot of time."

---

"So, a Queller, huh?" Xander slapped the book shut, causing everyone in the Magic Box to jump. "Meteor go boom, crazy guy goes bye-bye."

"Xander's book made it sound like this Queller thing had to be summoned," commented Tara. "So... who summoned it?

Xander sat back, smug in the knowledge he had discovered the critical link between tonight's events and the historical records. "Who else? My money's on our resident beastie summoner, Glory. First giant snakes, now giant roaches."

"We should call Buffy." Willow frowned. "Except we shouldn't call Buffy." She looked hopefully to Giles. "Should we?"

Giles pursed his lips, thinking carefully as he tried to balance the needs of his slayer versus their own. "Let's narrow this down a bit before we call Buffy and possibly send her on some wild goose chase. But we will call Riley and let him know the salient details so far." Giles went behind the counter and brought up the phone. He dialed in Riley's number from memory and drummed his fingers while he waited for the connection to go through. The others saw him as frowned, puzzled, and tried again, with the same result.

"What's up?" asked Xander.

"I couldn't get through. I got the answering service both times after only one ring."

"Maybe he's talking to Buffy?" ventured Willow.

Giles scratched behind his ear. "I-I don't know."

Xander snapped his fingers. "Call Cordy. She's with him and she has my phone."

"Excellent, Xander." Giles walked back to the phone still sitting on the counter and picked up the receiver. "What's your number?"

Xander's face registered mild disappointment that Giles didn't care enough to have his number. Quickly getting over it, he opened his mouth to recite the number. He stopped without saying anything. Giles lifted the phone expectantly. "I don't remember," Xander finally admitted with a small embarrassed smile.

Giles was incredulous. "You don't remember your own phone number?"

"No, why should I? I never have to call myself."

Willow was digging through her bag on the table. "Waitaminute. I've got it programmed into mine." She waved it victoriously before flipping it open. She hit the speed dial for Xander's phone and then listened. "I think it's getting through..."

---

It took a moment for Cordelia to recognize that the ringing phone was the one Xander had given her. She struggled to fish it out of her pocket as she walked away from the knot of military men present with her at the hospital. "Yeah? Oh, Willow, hi." Her frown melted away. "Right. It's a what? A Queller? Uh huh. Okay, let me put him on." Cordelia raised the phone and headed back to where Riley was conferring with the Major.

Riley glanced up at her approach. "What is it?"

"Willow. With information about our cockroach."

Riley took the phone from Cordelia. "Riley here." The noise level in the ward caused him to put his finger in his ear and walk out into the hall where it was a little quieter.

"A Queller, huh? Okay, and it's only after crazy people? That's interesting, 'cause we nearly had a ward full of crazy corpses here at Sunnydale Memorial. That's right. But we were able to scare it off before it did anything. Joyce? What about her? Willow calm down, it's okay, she was in no danger. Joyce was released earlier today. That intern, um, Ben, told me. She went home with Buffy, they'll be safe there. We--I mean I think I've got it cornered in the air ducts."

Ellis came up and tapped Riley on the shoulder impatiently. Riley held up a finger to indicate he needed another moment.

"Look, Willow, keep up what you're doing. Call me if you find out the best way I can kill this thing. Otherwise I'm going to assume the usual slice 'n dice." He snapped the phone shut and handed it back to Cordelia.

"Follow me," commanded Ellis. "We think we picked up the trail." He took off without verifying if Riley or Cordelia followed him. Riley caught up to him and relayed the information Willow had provided. Ellis nodded his acknowledgment but made no comment.

They exited the hospital to find Graham standing in the circular driveway, waving his Geiger counter about and shaking his head in confusion. "Trail stops here. Like it just vanished."

"It stops?" Riley slowly looked about and saw they were only a few feet from the taxi stand. "A car. It must have hitched a ride."

"So some poor loony-toon drove away with this thing?" asked Cordelia. "How in the world are we going to figure out where?" The others looked soberly at Cordelia.

Riley stared intently at the ground as pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place, forming a very ugly picture.

Ellis shouted at a sergeant standing just inside the doorway. "Get me a list of all patients discharged in the last 24 hours!"

That got Riley's attention and the last piece clicked into place. The intern Riley had spoken with, Ben, had mentioned the lapses of lucidness Mrs. Summers would be experiencing, that she might be have brief episodes of very odd behavior. Ben had gone on to say that it would have been better for Mrs. Summers to stay in the hospital. While agreeing with the intern's reservations, Riley explained there was no dissuading the Summers women when they set their mind to something.

"No! I know where it's going. We've gotta move. Now!"

---

The brown and green painted vehicles howled up the street under full power before screeching to a halt in front of 1630 Revello. Drapes in some of the nearby houses twitched as neighbors peered out of their windows to see what was going on at the Summers' place this time. They watched as armed men, carrying strange weaponry, jumped from the cars and spread out around the house.

Ellis, Riley, Graham and Cordelia were already running up the porch steps when a shriek was heard from inside. Riley didn't slow down as he crashed through the door. After diving low he rolled to a kneeling crouch, gun up, and took a fast visual sweep of the living room.

His felt a cold hand on his heart when he saw something matching Cordelia's description on top of Buffy, attempting to get in range to shoot its suffocating mucus down her throat. Riley could see Buffy trying to use a knife against the Queller but the demon has pinned her arms.

Riley tried to line up his weapon for a shot but Buffy and the demon were struggling and moving too much to get a clean shot and he didn't want to take any chances. Though it seemed like an eternity had passed, but in reality just a second or two, Riley heard Graham and Ellis cross through the entrance behind him and move to provide covering fire.

Before they could say anything to him Riley jumped to his feet, lowered his shoulders and roared at the top of his lungs. He barreled into the demon and knocked it off Buffy. Despite its relatively small size it was tremendously strong and fast, and it rolled Riley over onto his back and easily batted the gun away. It started to scrabble up Riley's body toward his face when it suddenly shrieked at a blood curdling pitch and relaxed its hold on him.

Sensing the weakened grip, Riley pushed back with his arms and legs and tried to pull away from the demon. From his position on his back, Riley saw Buffy plunge the knife into the demon's mid-section, over and over again. The Queller jumped off Riley and spun around to face Buffy. Riley was now able to free his baton from his leg holster and he began pummeling the Queller from behind, while Buffy continued to stab at it, reaching around its waving claws.

Getting battered from two sides at once the Queller demon was dead in a matter of seconds, but it took a few more moments before they both realized the fact and stopped.

Riley scooted back on his butt and sagged against the wall, still breathing heavily as Buffy pulled him into a wordless hug. He was about to return the hug when a noise came from upstairs.

"My mom!" Buffy breathed, and she ran off.

Ellis and Graham stepped forward to inspect the demon's carcass. The major nodded once and Graham pumped a few silenced rounds into the body. It didn't react. He frowned at it and suddenly gave at a swift kick near what he supposed was its head with his heavy boot. It still didn't move. Ellis smiled grimly. "Bag and tag it. Get a clean-up crew in here. Then call the hospital and give them the usual cover story and security warnings." Graham saluted and left the house to make the arrangements.

Ellis approached Riley before he had a chance to stand up. "You went a little off the reservation there, Finn, going in half-cocked before your backup was ready." Riley's back arched at the implied rebuke but he noticed Ellis was still smiling. "But you did good. Quick thinking. Didn't freeze. We'll talk again sometime."

Riley, propped up against a wall, looked up at the officer. "We will?"

"Count on it." Ellis nudged the dead Queller with his boot one more time, sniffed, and left the Summers' residence, Riley's eyes following him all the way out the door. Riley's gaze returned to the dead demon and he wondered what Ellis was talking about.

"So Soldier-Boy saves the day. Imagine that."

Riley's head snapped up at Cordelia's comment. "I'm a little tired, and a lot beat up. Even after our earlier heart-to-heart I still don't know you that well, so I really can't tell. Are you abusing me with sarcasm?"

Cordelia tilted her head and gave a him small smile. "No, I'm really not." She reached down to give Riley a hand up.

They stood together and ignored the men who were now coming in with tarps and other cleaning supplies and beginning to straighten out the mess.

"It's been a hell of a night. Do you need a ride home?" Riley asked.

Cordelia shrugged casually and waved her hand. "Nah. We're not far from the shop and I'll get a ride with Xander if he's still there. Why don't you go upstairs and be a good boyfriend?"

"Sounds like a plan I can get behind." Riley smiled, nodded, waved, and then took the steps two at time.

Cordelia brushed her hands together with a self-satisfied smirk. "And my work here is done." She dodged an incoming private on her way out the door.

Five minutes later, after being told Dawn and Joyce were safe and sound, and that it really wasn't necessary he stay, a confused and unhappy Riley also left the house.

---

"Xander!" Cordelia yelled down the hall, "We have to go. Now. Before the shops all close."

Xander popped his head out the doorway of his room, wet hair in wild disarray. "Huh? Go? What? Huh?"

Cordelia tapped her toe and practiced her mantra for patience when Xander acted dumb. She tended to get a lot of practice. "Very cute, Xander. Now get your jacket and credit card and let's go."

Xander came out of the room while using his fingers to slick back his hair. "And again, I say 'huh?'."

Cordelia sighed and rolled her eyes. Then using simple words she was fairly certain even Xander would understand Cordelia said, "I'm feeling good, happy. I want to buy something."

Xander nodded in evident understanding. "Ah, I get it now. We're going to celebrate Joyce's recovery with a senseless display of crass materialism?"

"Well, when you put it that way..." Cordelia pouted only for a moment, "it still sounds like a good idea! Let's go." Cordelia moved towards the door.

Xander walked into the living room waving his arms, then he made a T with his hands. "Whoah, whoah, whoah, just hold on a second! What are you talking about? You want to buy something, fine, go ahead. But why the 'us'?"

Cordelia registered frustrated annoyance. It had been a difficult week with all the upset over Joyce's illness. Everyone had been tense and, often literally, on the edge of their seat with worry. People were emotionally frayed, alternately snapping at each other one moment only to give each other encouraging hugs the next, as they waited for news on Joyce. Even Tara had been surprisingly short-tempered on occasion.

Now, after Mrs. Summers recovery from brain surgery and the excellent prognosis for a full recovery, things were starting to look up. The last thing Cordelia needed to ruin her good mood was Xander being himself. "I've only been talking about this for a week now."

"You have? Talking about what?"

"Can the stupid act." She pressed her fingers to her forehead to attempt to massage away the growing headache. Okay, maybe it wasn't an act. Cordelia sighed and glared at Xander. "Furniture!"

"Furniture?" He stared up at the ceiling, trying to remember when the subject had ever been mentioned. His eyes widened when he dimly recalled her saying something the other day. "Oh... tha-a-at."

"Yes, tha-a-at." She quickly stopped shaking her head when it only made her headache worse. "You weren't paying attention, were you?"

"Ah, well, it's just, y'know, I thought, um..."

"Um, what? What did you think, Xander? This ought to be good for a laugh." She crossed her arms and waited.

Xander shrugged helplessly. "That you were joking? I mean, we got the bed and dresser for your room, and some other stuff. And everything else came with the place." He waved vaguely at the cheap kitchen and living room pieces laying about, already showing signs of wear after just a few months use.

"Listen to me, you big dummy. This place is practically a dump. I want things to be a little nicer. No, make that a lot nicer. I live here, too, y'know."

Xander bristled at Cordelia's description of their apartment. "Yeah, today." He glanced over at the coffee table, which had several copies of "To Rent" and "Apartment" magazines scattered haphazardly. "Tomorrow, maybe not." He suddenly caught the way Cordelia averted her eyes and the slight shift of her shoulders. If he didn't know better he would swear she looked a little... guilty? "You are still looking, aren't you?"

During their first weeks together he had gone with Cordelia on several apartment hunting trips but they had had no luck. Each place they had looked was either too expensive, too run-down, or too far away. Of the very few left--some of which Xander had thought were very nice--Cordelia always found something about them she didn't like.

When his work schedule had picked up again he stopped going with her, but Xander assumed she was still looking. If the mess on the coffee table were any indication, she was still collecting the weekly flyers she once flipped through so eagerly. At the moment, however, Xander couldn't recall the last time he actually saw her read one.

Also looking at the pile on the table, it suddenly occurred to Cordelia that although she still told herself she wanted her own place she hadn't actively tried to find anything in quite a few weeks. Cordelia nibbled on her lower lip as she realized that continuing to pick up the weekly apartment rental inserts was becoming more show than substance.

She then considered how things had changed over the course of the last several weeks. Cordelia now found she had to work hard to get up the enthusiasm for her own place. The desire to find another apartment just for herself seemed to have diminished the more and more she made this home her own.

She frowned suddenly, disconcerted, when it dawned upon her that she actually liked living here. It was roomy and comfortable, the location was great and the view better. Although Xander had put up a few of his own decorations and knick knacks, he otherwise let Cordelia do anything she wanted with the decorating, as long as it wasn't too 'girlie'.

And she kind of liked having a roommate, even if it was Xander Harris. Dennis had been a wonderful companion in his own limited way, but she couldn't have a real conversation with him. Though conversations with Xander often tended more toward petty sniping argument than real discussion, even those could be fun--almost a game--as they each tried to see who could one-up the other in a war of words.

Sometimes, especially when one or both of them were too tired to drag around the baggage of their mutual history, they really did have some relaxed, pleasant and easy conversation. Sometimes it would be as simple and mundane as shop talk and gossip, other times they would talk about whatever demon or vamp they had last faced, or sometimes they had more serious discussion about their shared worry over Joyce and the future.

Overcoming her initial reluctance to join in, Cordelia had also immensely enjoyed the frequent movie marathons. The apartment would be packed with good people that she cared about. Everyone sat wherever they felt comfortable and shared whatever food was brought. Once the movie was started loud, derisive, and often hilariously vulgar commentary was directed at any and all on-screen inanities. Initially quiet at first, Cordelia had soon joined in with her own commentary and drew plenty of laughs with her sharp and acerbic wit.

"I'm still... looking," she insisted after a few seconds, "and when I find it I'll want to furnish it right away. So getting my stuff now is just a time saver."

Xander thought he detected a certain lack of conviction in her assertion but he decided not to challenge her over it. Realizing it would just be easier to give in, he reached into the closet to grab his coat and prepared to follow her bidding.

Once in the car, heading for the center of Sunnydale, Xander asked, "Where did you have in mind? Keeping in mind we can't afford much more than a card table and two folding chairs."

"Well, I've been collecting ads for all the sales people are having. And I've been scouting out a couple of places near The Magic Box."

They wandered around town, checking some picked-over garage sales and stores that were having sales. They were sorely disappointed when nothing was suitable, affordable, or that they could both agree on.

"There's one last place," sighed Cordelia. She dug around in her purse and pulled out a wrinkled and tatty business card. She frowned as she looked at the scribbled address on the back. "This way."

"What's that?" Xander nodded at the scrap in Cordelia's hand.

Her answer was uncharacteristically halting. "An... acquantaince... of mine. From back in L.A. He told me of this place. Handcrafted. Very good quality, very affordable."

"And the reason we didn't start here?" wondered a tired and annoyed Xander.

Cordelia shifted uncomfortably. "Well, we wouldn't be their usual sort of clientele. Sort of."

"Sort of? What's that supposed to mean?" Xander knew Cordelia's work in Los Angeles had introduced her to a lot of shady characters and he realized what she was probably talking about. "It's a fence, isn't it?

"No! He said it was legit. It's just not where a... person would normally go... to find furniture."

"Uh huh." Xander shook his head dubiously. He knew perfectly well that good, handcrafted furniture was anything but affordable, and this sounded too good to be true. But having no better ideas, Xander followed her toward a distinctly more demon-friendly part of town, not far from Willy's.

Xander checked his watch and looked up at the sun. He estimated there was at an hour of sunlight left, and shrugged off his concern. He barely avoided colliding into Cordelia, who had stopped at an intersection. She seemed confused when she looked up and around at the junctions of back streets and alleys within view. "We need to find Persimmon Lane. I know it's around here somewhere."

Xander looked about and pointed. "It's that alley over there." They crossed the street and entered the alley, whereupon she began pointing at each of the doors on her left as they passed by. Xander was about to ask Cordelia what she doing when he saw her lips moving silently and realized she was counting out doors. She suddenly stopped in front of an unmarked, rusted metal door set deep in the building's stonework.

Xander looked up and around. Aside from the door, the building side was a featureless wall of concrete and stonework on the first level, changing to corrugated metal siding above. The siding was broken up by numerous windows, and to Xander's surprise they were remarkably clean and in good repair.

"This it?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Cordelia answered uncertainly. But she squared her shoulders, stepped forward with as much confidence as she could muster, and knocked out a staccato "shave and a haircut". She stood back to wait, sharing a look with Xander. After a minute or two a door slot at eye-level snicked open. The glint of eyes could be just barely made out in the shadow of the opening.

"I'm looking for..." Cordelia turned the card over and glanced down at it before completing her statement, "Clem."

Xander was expecting a gruff tough-guy voice and was surprised when a pleasant and friendly one issued forth.

"How'd you find me?"

"Merl sent me."

The slide closed back with a metallic click. Xander rolled his eyes at the cheesiness and was not looking forward to the encounter. Everything about the situation was screaming that this was stolen goods they were about to deal with.

After another second passed the door opened inward and, with some hesitation, both Xander and Cordelia stepped into the cool darkness of a hallway. Xander stopped to allow his eyes to adjust to the gloom of the warehouse entrance and he got his first good look at the proprietor, presumably the "Clem" Cordelia had asked for.

Xander's stare quickly turned into a malevolent glare and he unconsciously reached for whatever weapon he might have handy. Cordelia had been half-expecting this and wasn't surprised at all.

The target of Xander's ire gave a nervous little laugh and self-consciously looked down at himself. "Oh this. It's a costume!" Clem flashed a toothy smile and waggled the folds of flesh hanging from his arm. "Yeah, yeah, still got that ole Halloween spirit!

"You're a demon," Xander said.

Clem put his hands up defensively. "No, no! Really, this is just a costu--well yeah, okay, I am. But I don't bite. Humans. Not at all, nosiree, way too hairy! I mean scary, wouldn't be right..." Clem trailed off when Cordelia suddenly eased past him and into the brightly lit main floor of the warehouse. Forgetting about Clem for the moment Xander followed after her.

The floor was crammed full of some of the most beautiful furniture Xander had ever seen. Cordelia was running around, already happily testing out different chairs and sofas. Xander stopped and gaped at all the pieces strewn about. He looked down at the table next to him and brushed his fingertips along the surface, admiring how the oiled finish had enhanced the chatoyance of the grain. His inspection quickly showed that this, and all the other pieces, were of superb quality.

Then the reality of the pocketbook set in. Xander turned around and prepared himself to be disappointed. "I know I'm going to regret asking, but...how much for this one?" He indicated an end table.

"Well, for such a fine-looking young couple as yourselves--"

Xander, eyes suddenly becoming wide, quickly shushed Clem. Nervously twisting about to make sure Cordelia was nowhere within hearing range, he relaxed when he saw her far across on the other side of the building. He was clearly relieved when he spoke again. "Oh no! Cordy and me, we just live together. Temporarily. We're not together together, y'know, okay? So for God's sake don't imply anything like that when she's around, or she'll have both our nuts in a grinder!"

Suitably chastened, the non-violent demon nodded, winked knowingly at Xander, and quickly returned to business. Xander's jaw almost hit the floor when Clem quoted him an unbelievable price on the table. "And it's all hand-made?" the Xander wanted to know.

"Hand-made?" Clem looked away and shuffled his feet. "Yeah. Yeah, you could say that...um, yeah. I guess." Clem's facial folds flapped about as he nodded.

Xander eyes narrowed to slits. Demon or not, he knew when someone was being evasive and his earlier suspicions came back. "It's stolen property, isn't it?!"

"No, no, no! It's not stolen. We're strictly on the up-and-up here." Clem was clearly offended. "Pinkie promise!" He waggled his pinkie, causing several other folds of skin to flop about as well. "It's just...y'know 'hands'," Clem explained as he waved both of his, "not the only kind of appendages that can hold a plane."

Xander was easily diverted by the reference to the craftsmanship, his professional interest whetted. "Planed? Are these pieces planed smooth or sanded?"

Clem gave him a pointy-toothed grin as he warmed to the topic of his mechandise. "Sometimes teeth. Here, take a look at this." Excited, the demon lead Xander over to a coffee table with a medallion carved into the center of the polished wood. "Took a Saftok demon two weeks and three pairs of front incisors to eat that out. But it sure is beautiful, isn't it? Very fine workmanship at a very reasonable price."

Xander, nodding his agreement while lovingly running his hand over the woodwork, barely noticing when Cordelia rejoined them.

"And it's all American made," extolled Clem, still trying to convince Xander of the worth of his inventory.

"We have citizen monsters now?" wondered Xander.

"Well, not exactly citizens per se, but they were born here. Or hatched. So that's something, right?"

Cordelia chose that moment to break in. "I know what we want."

"Don't I get a say in what we want?" Xander exclaimed.

She patted him on the shoulder. "My, my, you're being very funny today. Keep it up, it's attractive." She grabbed Clem's arm and took him off into the showroom to point out all the items she wanted. As they went off, Xander heard her saying, "And just so you know, we're friends of the slayer, okay? So don't try to pull anything funny."

Clem noted the items, wrote out the sales slip and presented them with the total. Xander whistled at how astoundingly reasonable it was. "You take Visa?"

"Yeah, we can do that. And since you've both been so nice--and you're not going to sic the slayer on me, are you?" Xander shook his head. "I'll give you a further 10 discount." He winked at them. "Just put in a good word for me with the slayer, would you? I run a nice, quiet business and I'd like to keep it that way."

Cordelia agreed immediately and after a moment's consideration so did Xander.

Cordelia gave Clem the address. "When can you deliver?"

"Oh, anytime after sunset. How about eight?. Is there a back entrance, y'know, where there aren't too many people?"

Xander thought for a second. "Yeah, there's a service elevator in back. And eight's fine."

Xander and Cordelia returned to the shop in an upbeat mood. Xander grinned as he listened to her ramble on, thinking aloud as she considered all the different ways to arrange the apartment with their new furnishings.

---

Not everyone's day ended so well.

Riley knew he was not alone the moment he stepped into his dark apartment. An inner sense told him he was in no danger and without trying to spot the other occupants he went to the refrigerator and pulled out a beer. He twisted off the top and took a healthy swallow, belching and then casually flipping the top into the trash. "What do you want?" he demanded in a tired voice.

"Just to talk," came the familiar rough voice from the shadowed room.

Riley cradled the bottle in his hands and leaned back against the counter-top. "I'm really not much for talking to you guys."

Major Ellis moved into the light streaming in from the street. "Didn't mind us a few days ago."

"Riley, just give the man a chance. You don't like what you hear, we'll be on our way."

Riley tried to glare at Graham, who had also moved into the light. But whatever remained of their tattered friendship still meant something to Riley and he was only able to stare expressionlessly. Acceding to Graham's request he returned his attention to Major Ellis. "Talk fast."

"We have a Code One in Belize. A demon tribe is taking apart missionaries in the rain forest down there."

"And you're telling me this because?"

"We're going to terminate their operation. We want you to join us."

Riley eye's flicked back and forth between his friend and the Major. "I'm a civilian," he informed them.

"I don't believe that. Neither do you. You're still a soldier, Finn, you always will be. You were an important member of a team once, a leader, and now that team is asking for your help."

Riley's right eye twitched and he took another big swallow from the bottle. "I quit the government a long ways back."

"We're not government. We're Army."

"Just like you," Graham softly added.

"It's not the Initiative, Finn. We don't do experiments. None of us give a damn what makes monsters tick. We just stop 'em any way we can. And we think you can help us."

"Help? Me? You guys are staffed. What do you need me for?"

Ellis paused and then began to pace easily in front of Riley. "I've seen how you handle yourself. I've read your file. You know what you're up against and you don't panic when the situation isn't covered by the book. And you know it's always like that. And I always need people like that." He stopped suddenly, right in front of Riley, and looked at him hard. "I'm not gonna lie to you, Finn. It's the same raw deal it always was. High risk, low pay, seriously messy, and no bar stories to impress the girls when we're done. But we've got people that you can depend on and I hope they can depend on you."

Ellis squinted as he closely examined Riley's face, noting the tension in his neck and shoulders. A cunning look came over the Major. "Strange you're here, alone."

Riley looked up sharply. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ellis shrugged. "Just thought you might be out celebrating the good news on Mrs. Summers with your girl. Joyce, isn't it? Seems like a fine lady, I'm glad she's fully recovered." Ellis' voice dropped to a much softer tone. almost a whisper, as he stepped away. "We ship out for Central America tonight at twenty-four hundred. The decision's yours."

"Think about it, Rye," said Graham.

Neither officer bothered to wait for an answer, though Graham gave him a quick, encouraging smile, before they swept out of the room. Riley was left alone, in the dark, still holding the bottle of beer. He didn't move for a long time.

---

Later that evening Riley entered the magic shop and slowly, carefully closed the door behind him so as not to jingle the bell. He stepped down and saw both Xander and Cordelia.

Xander noticed him first. "Hey, Riley! What's up?"

Riley gave quick nods to both Xander and Cordelia. "Xander. Cordelia."

Cordelia glanced up briefly from her magazine, said nothing, and resumed reading up on the latest from Paris. Even though she was still a long way from affording those kinds of clothes, she was determined to maintain an optimistic view of her future and didn't want to fall behind on what was in and what wasn't.

Now that he was further from the street and its noise Riley could hear a low arrhythmic thumping. "Buffy's in back?"

"How could you tell?" commented Cordelia.

"Yeah, she's sure the pound-master today," Xander agreed.

"Uh, okay. I guess I'll go see her." Riley shuffled off after giving a small wave.

Xander stared after him as he disappeared down the hallway leading to the back room. "Huh. I wonder what that was all about?" He looked at Cordelia curiously.

"I'd say one tin soldier is about to ride away."

Xander's surprise showed. "What have you heard, Cordy? Have you been saying something to them? I know you said something to Buffy and I'm guessing you've talked to Riley, too." Xander paused and looked suspiciously at Cordelia. "You're not trying to break them up, are you?"

Cordelia set the magazine aside angrily. "No, I'm not! And what I told Buffy, which is really none of your business, is she should appreciate what she has. That we're all here to help. Not to let things go unsaid that need saying. And I told him he was needed here and that he also needed to give Buffy a break."

Cordelia let some of her anger at Xander's unjustified accusations simmer away. She picked up the magazine again but didn't look down at it. "I expect it's the same things you've been telling them. But no matter what either of us says or wants, they still have to work it out for themselves. It's not for you or me to fix their relationship."

Cordelia's justified annoyance stopped Xander's protest and she returned to her fashion news. He sat back and sighed, mulling over her comments. "You're right, Cordy. It was wrong to accuse you, and I'm sorry."

Cordelia snapped the page over and tried to stay angry at him, but his surprising and sincere apology affected her more than she would have expected. She looked up and gave Xander a small sad smile. "Apology accepted." And it never hurt to be told she was right--even if she knew it all along.

---

Buffy didn't glance up from her punching combinations, but Riley knew she was aware of his presence. He moved to watch her from the side to get a better view of her profile against the light as she worked out. Entranced by her fluid grace and controlled power, he was in awe of how it was all wrapped up in such a tiny yet smart and beautiful person. Riley allowed himself to remember how good it once was between them, and for a moment he felt the hum again, the wild pervading excitement he used to always feel in her presence.

After a long while, when it didn't look like Buffy was going to take a break, Riley brought his mind back to the here and now and cleared his throat. She finally glanced at him for the first time but didn't slow her rhythm.

"They want me back, Buffy. Tonight."

Buffy landed one more heavy kick-punch-kick combination, one that would have decapitated almost any demon she'd likely face. She grabbed the heavy bag to stop it from spinning and sagged against it, breathing heavily. "Who? Who wants you back? For what?" she asked between breaths. She didn't understand why her stomach was suddenly doing flip-flops.

Riley pushed himself off the wall, first approaching her and then walking past, his back to her. "The Army. A new demon killing unit. Just like what I thought I'd signed up for with the Initiative."

"And you're telling me now?" she demanded.

He looked back over his shoulder. "I only just found out myself." Buffy nodded but didn't look at him as he continued. "There's an op planned in South America. They want me in on it."

"South America?" Buffy suddenly looked up. "Of course you told them no, right?"

He stared down at the floor and quietly said, "I--I think I'm going."

There was a moment of stillness before Buffy exploded. "WHAT?!"

Riley took a ragged breath and turned toward her, taking one step closer. "People are getting hurt, Buffy. They need my help. I'm going. Tonight."

Buffy hadn't recovered from the initial shock of Riley's news. She felt like the room was closing in on her. "Tonight? What? What's going on, Riley? I don't understand."

"They need me."

"I need you!"

Riley tilted his head as he looked at Buffy curiously. "Do you?"

"Of course I do, Riley."

His expression was almost pleading when he looked at her. "Really? Do you really need me? Or am I just convenient to have around once in awhile?"

"Convenient?" Buffy was confused. "Where's this coming from, Riley? How can you be saying these things to me?"

"I love you, Buffy. You know I do. I know you like me. A lot, I think. I'd like to think there was more. But... I don't. I'm just not feeling anything. You just don't need me."

"You want me to need you?" Buffy almost sneered. "What, you want some simpering Stepford Wife--"

"No! That's exactly what I don't mean. It's... You don't let me in, Buffy. Like with your mom--"

"Oh, I'm sorry if I don't spend enough time with you after taking care of my mom. I'm sorry I can't give you all the attention you want when I also have to watch after Dawn."

"But that's just it! It isn't the time or the attention that matters. Of course you should take all the time you have to be with them. I-I just need to know that-that I matter, that I matter enough for you to let me take some of that off you, to let you have the time to be with your mom without having to worry about everything else."

"But I do have to worry about everything else!" Buffy said vehemently. "I'm the slayer. It comes with the territory. It never goes away!"

"I really do understand that, Buffy. Being the slayer you've got such an incredible burden. You're under so much pressure all the time." Riley spoke slowly as he tried to put his troubled and fragmented thoughts into words that would make sense. "But don't you see? You more than anyone should need help. In spite of the fact we look to you to for answers, we also look to you to let us share your problems. Let us in, let us help. We all want to. But," Riley shrugged, "you won't. Or can't allow yourself to."

"I let you help! I need all your help. Can't you see that? Like the other day, when you and the guys went after that vampire."

Riley shook his head. "Only when you're forced to. But you don't actually want it. If you could you would keep this fight--every fight--all to yourself." Riley's posture, once hang-dog, now straightened up, almost in parade-rest. "But I'm a fighter too, Buffy, a soldier. I operate in a team. I trust and rely on my team, and they can rely me. It's how I work, it's how I want things to work."

"But I work with you guys," insisted Buffy.

"No, you really don't. Half the time it's like I'm just in your way. These guys, they need me. This mission's important and they need what I can do, what I know."

Buffy could hardly believe this was happening. Her head was moving from side to side slowly, as if that alone could prevent something that seemed unthinkable only moments ago and yet now seemed inevitable. She looked up at Riley, now truly angry for the first time. "So this is all my fault? This is it? Things got a little tough with us, I don't fit into your idea of how things work, and your solution is just to walk out?"

Riley winced and his face grew red with shame. He knew he should be more forgiving, but he wasn't up to it. He just couldn't help how he felt about her. There was a dichotomy of views he had of her. The slayer was powerfully strong and fiercely independent, an untouchable champion. And there was the human girl, with human needs and frailties, yet still strong in her humor, warmth and generosity. But as much as he wanted the slayer and appreciated all her power he most wanted the girl who was special and heroic, not an untouchable superhero who happened to be human.

"You're probably right. It's not the best way to handle it, I know that. I just have to do some thinking. And I-I'm coming back. When the mission's done I'm coming back. If there's still something between us then we can decide. See if there's a place for me with you."

Although the anger at Riley's unfairness, at the arrogance of his assumption of how she felt about him, still simmered, Buffy was beginning to feel resigned. She didn't completely understand his reasons, but Riley wanted out. And she refused to beg him to stay. At least he didn't try to claim it was for her own good, that just would have added insult to injury. She looked up at him. "Whenever it's done? How long will that be?" she asked.

"I don't know. Four weeks. Six, maybe."

"Or not at all, maybe?"

"I won't lie to you. It's dangerous. So, yeah, there's that possibility." Hesitantly Riley moved to touch her, hold her if she would let him. "Buffy I--"

Buffy turned her back on him. She may be resigned to it, but she didn't have to like it.

Riley sighed and his shoulders fell. Crestfallen, feeling like the biggest heel in the world, he turned and took several steps toward the door. He stopped, his hand resting on the door jamb, and looked back over his shoulder at Buffy. "I will be back, Buffy. I promise. Then we can decide if I should stay back." She didn't react and he left.

A quick spasm shook her body. "Bastard!" she whispered fiercely, wiping at her eyes.

---

Riley returned from the back room, his steps stiff and halting rather than his usual confident stride, his face a stony mask. He held out a scrap of paper to Xander, who automatically took it.

"Well, guys. Xander. Cordelia. I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything you've done for me. You're both good friends. But I'm gonna be gone for a little while. There's a...mission I need--They need me." He lightly punched Xander's shoulder. "Xander, keep working on that shot. I expect to get a decent one-on-one game out of you someday."

Riley turned to Cordelia. "Cordelia, it's been...an interesting experience," he cocked his head and smiled, "and a pleasure knowing you. I'd like to talk with you again about setting up that training when I get back." He took one step and then turned back. "Please say goodbye to Joyce, Dawn, and the gang for me? And please take good care of yourselves. And Buffy."

Before either of them could move or speak, Riley turned and was out the door, letting it bang shut behind him and leaving behind a confused pair. Xander's mouth was hanging open, his hand still out where he had accepted the paper from Riley.

When Xander had finally gotten his senses together and thought to go run into the training room, Buffy had already come out, looking very upset. She stared at the front door, her expression a mixture of sadness, hurt and anger.

"Buffy! What just happened? What? Riley's leaving?" Xander squeaked out.

Buffy crossed her arms tightly and nodded her head. Her expression turned grim, but her chin quivered just the tiniest bit.

"But, but...I thought..." Xander looked back forth between the door and Buffy. "You're letting him go?"

She rounded angrily on Xander. "I'm not letting him go! That's not what happened." She was nearly shouting at Xander and she paused to take a moment and calm down. With her head down she drew in a deep, shaky breath. "He's got some things to take care of...somewhere..." Her hand waved about vaguely.

"That's else?" finished Cordelia, sympathetically.

Numb, Buffy nodded.

Xander looked down at the paper he'd been given. He unfolded it and saw an address written on it, a mail stop at some base in Texas. He held out the scrap to Buffy. "Here, you should probably have this," he said softly.

Buffy hesitated, then quickly reached and snatched it from him. She wiped at her eye as she looked at it. "He's a big boy, he can take care of himself. He said he was coming back."

"He'd better," said Cordelia.

Even several minutes later Xander was still feeling stunned. First Oz, then Anya, and now Riley too? For the moment the young man just couldn't process how another of the people he was close to had just up and walked out like that. Who the hell would be next? he finally wondered. His eyes inexorably zeroed in on Cordelia.

to be continued