"Buffy?" Xander tried to look her in the eyes. "What's wrong? I mean besides that freaky vamp…" He looked away. "Maybe she's related to Drusilla…"
"Did you hear what she said?" Buffy shook her head. "Angel…"
"Buffy, I'm not sure I know what's going on here..."
"This is serious Xander." She looked him straight in the eye. "Go get Willow, I'm going to Giles' place…"
"He's at school, the library."
"Thanks." Buffy turned and headed towards the school.
* * *
Buffy paused outside the doors to the library. She closed her eyes, feeling the memories she had repressed for so long well up inside her. All the times they had been in here researching, all the training sessions, the tears, triumphs… And what would he say to her? What would she tell him? She didn't even know why she had come back, she just…did. She took a deep breath and slowly opened the door. "Giles?" She called hesitantly.
He came out of his office. "What is it…Good God!" He almost dropped the book he was carrying. "Buffy? You…you're…" He stammered.
"Hi." She tried to smile. "Um, long time no see, no talk?"
He let out a breath. "I…I don't know what to say."
"Well, while you're thinking, we've got a problem." Buffy pulled out a chair and sat down. "A new vamp is in town."
"Really?" he asked. "The paranormal has been much less…para…since you left…"
"Wow, they always do this to me." She said as she crossed her arms. "Why don't we all welcome the Slayer back to the Hellmouth, show her how much we've missed her?"
"Well," He pulled off his glasses, cleaning them on the tails of his untucked shirt. "Describe your encounter."
"I was hunting. After slaying a vampire, I ran into Xander. We were going to find Willow, when this vampire attacked Xander…"
"And he almost bit me!" Xander announced his presence. "I should keep track of how often that happens, maybe I have a record of some kind…"
"Hey Buffy." Willow said softly.
"Will…" Buffy stood. "Hi, I missed you." The two girls hugged.
"I'm glad you're back Buffy." Willow whispered. "We've all missed you."
Buffy sat back down, and Willow and Xander took a seat. "Anyway, I slayed him, and then this female vamp…She said her name is Nightshade. She talked about Spike…"
"Spike hasn't been around though." Xander piped up. "We figured you killed him."
"No- we teamed up against Angel…Anyway, she said she was here to kill me and keep us from getting Angel back. Giles, she's serious, We need to get on this as soon as possible. She's powerful, I could feel it…"
"With Spike?" Xander eyes grew wide.
"And," She said quietly, looking down. "She said we could get Angel back. Is…I mean, can that be done?"
"Well, I suspect we'll have some reading to do. But it's getting late, Buffy. You should go home and sleep, come back in the morning…I'm sure your mother was ecstatic to have you home."
Buffy looked away. "I haven't seen Mom. I was planning on staying at Angel's old place…"
"Buffy," Giles sat down. "I am glad you're back. We were all worried. But your mother is beside herself, not knowing where you are, not knowing what happened. She loves you very much."
Buffy's gaze grew cold. "No she doesn't." Seeing Giles about to say something she jumped up. "Look. You don't kick someone out of their house if you love them. You are my watcher. You train me, you tell me who, what, when, where and how when it comes to demons, but you DO NOT run my personal life!"
"Buffy as your watcher, everything in your life is important to me…"
"Back off." She nearly snarled. "Give me some room. When you're ready to help me fight vampires, I'll come back." She turned and walked out.
"Well…" Xander started.
"Xander we don't need any more of your stupid comments!" Giles snapped.
"Sorry."
"So am I. I didn't mean it." Giles ran a hand through his thinning hair.
"So, what do you think is wrong with her? She seems so…distant." Willow said thoughtfully. "Almost like she's put some kind of barrier up."
"It could be like what happened when she killed the master." Xander shrugged. "She might have issues to work out."
"Probably because she had to kill Angel." Willow said to Giles, acknowledging that Xander was present but that she still was angry.
"She's probably hurting very much." Giles agreed. "So she's pushing people away."
"Well, let's just get to work on this new vampire. So next time she stops by we can give her some info." Willow suggested.
"I know I'm not usually insight guy, but I don't think it's the fact Nightside or whatever her name is wants to kill Buffy that's giving her the wiggins." He looked from Giles to Willow. "I think its Angel."
* * *
Buffy slowly walked into Angel's apartment, and dumped her two bags she had retrieved from her mother's house by the door. She fought off the memories that tried- once again- to overwhelm her. "Stop it," She snapped at herself. < You're emotions are what got you into this mess, and Angel into hell, so just stop it. > She turned in a slow circle, taking in everything. Nothing had changed. There was so much of him here. Everywhere she looked, everywhere in this freak'n town, there he was… < But he's not dead. Is it true? > She thought about it for a while. It made sense. Sort of. There were only a few ways you could 'kill' a vampire permanently: a stake through the heart, burn them, or sunrays…All she had done was stab him through with a steel sword. She ran a hand through her hair, and exhaled, dropping to a seat on the bed. * * *