CHICAGO
"What the hell are you doing here?"
The second the harsh words left Mary's lips, Stefan found himself roughly yanked by the arm down the street, out of view of the story he had found Mary and Klaus in.
Mary quickly glanced over her shoulder before turning her furious gaze back to Stefan. She was already in hell by being forced to do her brother's bidding, she didn't even want to imagine what would happen if Klaus found her conspiring with Stefan.
But, she knew one thing for sure, if the Hybrid spotted them she would end up right back in that damn necklace.
Living in a torturous cell for god knows how long.
Stefan merely shook her perfectly manicured hand off him as he glanced down at the raven-haired witch. He had to admit it was still weird looking at her and not seeing Buffy's face or the burn scars "You look different." He told her, gesturing to her healed facial features and dark short locks "Let me guess, you're finally hex-free?"
Mary just rolled her eyes "Yes, now answer my bloody question!"
She didn't have time for small talk. Especially, given that her insane adopted brother was nearby, waiting for an excuse to snap her neck and lock her away once again. Just as he had done with each one of their siblings, one after the other.
"I should warn you, Stefan, if my brother finds out you're here he's not going to be too pleased."
Just because Klaus was leaving in a few hours to head down to California for his monthly check-in with Buffy, didn't mean he wouldn't lock Stefan in a cage and lock her away for months the second he saw them together.
Mary was panicked but also curious.
It had been over a year since she had last seen either Stefan or Damon...how had they been able to find her after all of this time?
"How did you find me?"
"Katherine." Stefan explained without hesitation as he glared down at one of the two women who had been a bain in his existence for over 150 years "You and her...some things never change. Let me guess, Klaus has no idea she's nearby."
The taunting tone of the threat clearly being thrown her way had Mary clenching her jaw tightly.
If Stefan was messing with her and put her life as well as Katherine's in jeopardy, she would tear him apart limb by limb before tossing him to Klaus for more torture.
"Don't tempt my fury, Stefan." She hissed out darkly as she took a threatening step toward him, the wind picking up around them "You'll be dead before you can even get near Klaus."
Witch beat Vampire any day.
Stefan merely smirked down at her, at the moment he didn't fear Klaus or anything. He was too focused on his mission, to protect Buffy.
He would do that at any cost, even if it meant sacrificing a little part of his own humanity to make sure she would be okay "How are you going to do that when you're basically Klaus's bitch now?" He taunted sounding more like his old Ripper self "Katherine spilled that he still has your amulet. Which means he controls your life right now."
If Mary ran, all it took was one slip and her soul would go back to the amulet, and as long as Klaus had it, he completely controlled when or if she returned back to the land of the living.
Mary rolled her eyes before moving past him, she was done with this "Bye, Stefan."
In a panic, the vampire quickly blocked her path, as much as he hated her, this was his only hope.
Mary was the only one that could help him "Look, I need your help."
Mary scoffed "Yeah, like that's going to happen."
"This will benefit both of us."
His words had her the tiniest bit intrigued "And how's that?"
"Because it means that the past 800 years that you've spent planning your revenge against Klaus won't be a waste."
There it was.
Stefan could see it all over her face, he was hitting those nerves of hers, making her curious.
"Stefan, you're not the diabolical type. Your plan whatever it is isn't going to work."
"Which is why I need one of the two most diabolical women I know to help out a little."
"What do you want?" Mary questioned nervously as she glanced over his shoulder, keeping an eye out for her brother. If he saw Stefan here they were both beyond screwed.
"I need a vial of the memory potion Klaus used on Buffy."
Any bit of hope that she had been feeling was quickly wiped clean. There was no way in hell she could get that, it was too risky. "What!? No, I can't get you that. Tell me this is not just about getting your little girlfriend back."
"So what if it is." He questioned with a shrug, he knew that if he pushed enough she would agree, all she wanted was to get away from Klaus "Think about it, Mary. If Buffy gets her memory back, then Klaus's prophecy won't come true. Meaning you get what you've always wanted."
As appealing as it sounded to screw Klaus over, she wouldn't put her life on the line for Stefan's little Slayer obsession "And the part where Klaus kills me and Katherine is also a part of that plan, am I right?"
"Look, I just need a small vial of the potion. Once I have it, Bonnie knows a way to find out how to reverse the effects. You know Buffy is the only person that can kill Klaus, and that's what you want most, so help me. Give me the potion and make sure Klaus doesn't realize that Damon and I are trying to get her memory back."
The idea of covering for the brothers immediately had Mary shaking her head in refusal. The Salvatore Brothers were anything but subtle.
"You and Damon are not as smart as you think you are. And I have risked a hell of a lot already."
Stefan rolled his eyes "Hmm."
His response caused her blood to boil in fury "I made sure you would see the sketch of the tower! I sent Elena a way to make sure Buffy was alive! I have done more than enough you ungrateful twat!"
That certainly caused Stefan's smug attitude to falter.
Because the truth was every time Mary had sent them help, she had done it while living with Klaus, which meant she had risked more than any of them could possibly understand.
Yet, she was still their only hope.
"Mary...please." Stefan practically begged, quickly switching tactics.
There was a long moment of silence between the two of them as Mary contemplated what to do. This was beyond risky she knew that but her desire to take away everything that Klaus loved as he did to her was too overwhelming.
Especially after a year of being treated as nothing more than another one of his minions.
"Klaus took the last of the vials. They're being kept in his safe, Katherine knows where it is, get her to get you in. I can keep Klaus from finding out but if he realizes that I'm keeping something from him, that'll be it. So don't get caught, and I swear if she doesn't kill him and free me, and that The Prophecy comes true, I won't be the only one that suffers. Your little girlfriend will be the one that drives a stake through you."
"Marianna!"
The sound of Klaus's voice instantly caused the pair to tense up.
"Go." Mary hissed as her eyes filled with terror "Now. And get it done Stefan, I want free of this bastard."
BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
Despite the fact her shift had finished an hour ago, Buffy still found herself at the gallery. Normally she was excited to head home but now that Jeremy and Elena were living with her, it was a struggle to find a moment of peace.
Hence why for the first time ever, she was still hanging around the studio, completely under the mercy of Nik who was trying to teach her to paint.
To say it was not going well was an understatement.
She truly didn't have the patience for painting.
Standing behind Buffy, Klaus could help but laugh as she glared at the canvas, clearly growing frustrated by the fact that she couldn't go over the line he had set up without the paint colors dripping into each other.
"Love, patience, and focus are the keys when using multiple different colors."
Buffy practically growled as she continued to glare at the painting "Nope." She huffed dropping the paintbrush back down into the water and backing away from the canvas which she was ready to launch across the room "This Slayer has no patience for painting."
As she stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest, Klaus couldn't help but laugh. He had to admit she looked adorable with paint all over her face and the jean dungarees she was wearing "I am just trying to broaden your horizons. No offense love but your technique is laughable."
"Next time let's stick with a sketching lesson." Buffy warned before grinning as she wiped her paint-covered fingers over his face, soaking the wet paint across his nose and cheeks.
The sight of him covered in paint her giggling only to squeal and run like hell as she spotted him picking up the bucket of paint.
**
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
Crouched on top of the mausoleums, Buffy continued to scan the graveyard, watching out for any vampires.
Slowly standing, Buffy jumped down, and the moment her feet touched the ground she took off in a run toward the nearest grave. As she approached she noticed a vampire's arm appear out of the ground.
Quickly she bent down and staked the vampire before it could get out of its grave.
As she spotted another vampire leap out of its ground, Buffy moved to attack it.
Ducking as the vampire swung at her, Buffy quickly swung her own fist outwards before sending a sucker punch to his jaw. Jumping up she kicked him in the chest before punching him in the face again.
Throwing an uppercut to the vampire's jaw sending him sprawling backward, Buffy then leaped up, sending a strong kick to his stomach.
The vampire crashed to the ground but quickly rolled back to his feet.
Out of nowhere, Riley appeared and grabbed the vampire tossing him to the ground.
Buffy's eyes widened "Riley?"
At the sound of Buffy's voice, Riley turned to her in surprise "Buffy. What are you doing here?"
"My job." She said simply, still completely stunned and confused. This was her fight yet he had completely cut in.
"Well, I just thought you were in the north sector."
Buffy frowned before her eyes widened as noticed the vampire stand back up behind Riley "Watch out!" She yelled.
But as she moved forward, Riley kicked the vampire in the knee before twisting its arm behind its back and tossing him into the mausoleum.
"Looks like you're obsolete."
At the sound of the familiar smug voice, Buffy looked up just as Riley staked the vampire and spotted Damon sitting on the roof of the mausoleum. The blonde couldn't help but scoff in disbelief, what the hell was happening right now?
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Damon shrugged as his legs continued to dangle from the stone building "What? It's a free country."
Buffy noticed another vampire beginning to rise, growling softly she glanced up at Damon "I'll deal with you in a minute." She hissed before turning to go attack the other vampire, only to have Spike tackle it.
"Well, that was unexpected." Damon commented as he watched Spike fight the vampire with a furrowed brow, now that he hadn't been expecting. Last he saw Spike, the guy was on Buffy's doorstep in Mystic Falls, newly dumped by Drusilla "Since when is he good?"
Ignoring Damon's commentary, Buffy continued to glare at Spike in disbelief.
What was it with all these guys ruining her Slayer time?
"Spike, what are you doing here?"
Spike glanced at her teasingly "Same reason as you and your cub scout here, I wager. Wanted a spot of violence before bedtime." He explained before continuing to pound on the vampire.
Suddenly, Spike got punched across the face sending him flying.
As he stood back up, Buffy rushed forwards and shoved Spike out of the way before staking the vampire herself.
While the remains of the vampire disappear around her, Buffy looked up at Damon "Get down you idiot." She hissed yanking him down from the mausoleum before turning her attention to Spike who was wiping the blood from his nose.
"What?" Spike questioned as he started sucking the blood off his fingers "I softened him up."
"You better keep out of my way, Spike." Buffy warned him "I'm not gonna take this much longer."
Damon snorted as he glanced over at the bleached-haired vampire "I see you as the knitting kind. Go home and make a sweater."
Groaning loudly, Buffy rubbed her forehead in frustration before turning to glare back at Damon, he was so getting on her nerves right now "Shut up."
Spike glared over at Damon "Who the hell are you?!"
"None of your business, Billy Idol." Damon snarked with a roll of his eyes. How Buffy hadn't killed this guy yet he couldn't understand.
"Oi!" Spike yelled, "He stole my look."
"Shut up!" Buffy screamed, close to losing her mind at this point "God it's like dealing with children." She muttered before turning to focus on Damon first "You shh or I'll break your nose."
Damon just shrugged.
Not like it would be the first time.
"And you..." Buffy turned to Spike next "You shh or I'll stake you. Does everybody understand? Good. Now I don't care what you do as long as it keeps you out of my way."
"She's right." Riley added as he approached, clearly not happy that Damon was here let alone Spike.
But mainly Damon.
He didn't like the way the Salvatore looked at Buffy.
"You shouldn't be out here when she's patrolling. Neither of you should." He muttered glancing in Damon's direction, still in the mindset that Damon was just a regular cocky human "You could get yourself killed."
Buffy looked over at Riley, about to argue that he shouldn't be out here either but hesitated.
Spike noticed the look she threw Riley and couldn't help but grin "Oh! I saw that. Looks like none of the three is entirely welcome. You should take them both home, Slayer, make sure soldier boy stays there." He turned to Riley "I've got knitting needles he can borrow."
His obvious need to try and mess up her relationship, had Buffy glaring at Spike "Spike, I just saw you taste your own nose blood. You know what? I'm too grossed out to hear anything you have to say. Go home."
With that, Buffy turned and grabbed Damon's arm shoving him forward "Move it, idiot. I don't wanna be responsible for one of Elena's idiot friends getting killed.
As she focused on getting Damon home, Buffy glanced back at Riley "I got to get this one home, plus, this place seems dead. Unless you wanna go back and kill Spike just for the fun of it."
Riley contemplated the idea for a moment before both of them shrugged, knowing he was not worth it.
Buffy waved goodbye to her boyfriend before she continued to move Damon forward, as she walked him back to his house.
"Looks like your perfect boy toy doesn't like to listen to the man in the relationship."
Buffy rolled her eyes and pulled Damon to a stop "Do you want me to gage you?"
Damon grinned "Oh yes please." He teased, leering down at her.
"Elena's gonna be pissed" Buffy muttered under her breath before punching Damon in the face, causing his hands to fly to his nose "You're a pig, Damon."
Ignoring the slight pain from the new fracture in his nose, Damon chuckled as he wiped away the fresh blood "You hit hard but that's pretty obvious."
"Were you born this big of a pain in the ass, or was it a gradual thing?"
"Depends who you ask." He admitted with a shrug.
Buffy sighed running a shaky hand through her hair as she watched him. She just couldn't understand how someone could be so stupid as to come to a graveyard in Sunnydale in the middle of the night "Why were you out here Damon?"
"That's my business and for you to dot dot dot..."
Growing more frustrated by the second, Buffy grabbed Damon shoving him up against the nearest wall, she then twisted his arm painfully "Damon, what were you doing out here?"
When he doesn't answer she twisted his arm again, causing him to groan in slight pain under her hold.
Okay, clearly she had gotten a little stronger over the past year.
"Well if you would let me go, I would gladly explain."
Buffy shoved him away from her "Look Damon, I don't have time to babysit you, so if this is some sort of thrill ride get over it."
Damon just shook his head "I come out here to think." He fibbed "Used to do it in Mystic Falls, just didn't realize the drastic difference in the number of vampires here."
Buffy stared at him unconvinced and crossed her arms, he was hiding something she could feel it "And you were hiding on the top of a mausoleum because..."
Knowing that she wasn't going to let this go, Damon sighed in defeat "Fine. I was bored. Plus I like to watch you fight, it's..."
"If you hit on me again, I will remove your favorite appendage."
Damon quickly stepped back and raised his hands in self-defense "I won't do it again. Promise."
Still not buying his excuse, Buffy moved to question him only to groan as a familiar pain snuck up on her. Rubbing her temples slowly she clenched her eyes shut just images of herself shoving a dark-haired figure up against a front door of an unfamiliar house filled her mind.
"Yet you're not afraid of me...are you really that stupid?"
"You know I've killed a lot of vampires...I've never hated one before."
"Geez super blonde..."
"That was your one warning. You come near my friends or my family again and I will end you."
Buffy blinked slightly shaking her head trying to force down the images of herself in a situation that to her had never happened.
Feeling Damon's concerned eyes glued to her the blonde shakes herself back to the present. Ignoring Damon's gaze, Buffy shoved him forward intent on getting him home before he got himself killed.
"Go home."
Damon sighed "Yes Ma'am."
With that, he offered her a small salute before disappearing.
Buffy sighed in relief before heading toward her house, with no idea that Damon had in fact followed her, making sure she got back safe.
**
"What's wrong?" Bonnie couldn't help but ask as she entered Elena's new room in the Summers household only to spot a defeated look on the brunette's face as she tossed her phone on the bed.
Elena merely shook her head as she grabbed her textbooks and began putting them into her bag "Caroline is helping Tyler he's still struggling with the whole werewolf thing. They're gonna see if they can find a pack to help him. She says she'll try and help when she can."
Bonnie couldn't help but pout slightly, she missed that blonde bubbly vampire but if Tyler was struggling then, it was just going to have to be the two of them.
"Come on we got class."
At that Elena couldn't help but grin, she was excited because this meant she was actually going to college with Buffy. Just how they had always planned to "Ah the first day at UC Sunnydale."
"You nervous?" Bonnie asked.
Elena shook her head as she grabbed her now-filled bag and her purple jacket off the bed "No. It's weird I thought I would be but...last year felt off and I guess actually going to school with Buffy now, it's how it was supposed to be."
"Yeah, minus Buffy's memory loss and all the Klaus stuff it is almost perfect."
Elena laughed softly as they two slowly started making their way out of the house "That too."
**
As the two girls walked through the campus halls of UC Sunnydale, Elena couldn't help but smile as she spotted Buffy and Willow walking out of one of the classrooms, deep in conversation.
"You know inspirational music, a montage, me sharpening my pencils, me reading, writing, falling asleep on a big pile of books with my glasses all crooked—" Buffy blabbed as she turned to face the redhead "Cause in my montage, I have glasses—but real life is slow, and it's starting to hurt my occipital lobe."
Willow couldn't help but pout softly at her friend and tapped her head lightly "Oh. Poor Buffy's brain."
"Hey."
At the sound of her cousin's voice, Buffy turned her head, and sure enough, approaching them were Elena and Bonnie.
Buffy smiled at the new freshmen "Hey guys."
"Hello, fellow witch." Willow chimed in with a bright grin on her face, clearly excited by the prospect of having another witch in their group whom she could bounce magic ideas off of.
Bonnie couldn't help but chuckle in amusement, she had to admit she was also excited. Back in Mystic Falls, she was the only witch, so it was nice to actually be around other witches. She had never really had the chance to do that.
As the witches bonded, Buffy glanced over at Elena, hoping the brunette could get Damon under control before she snapped and killed him "You know Elena, your friend Damon is a weirdo. He was hanging around in the graveyard yesterday."
Elena's eyes widened in panic. She was so ready to kill Damon.
He needed to be more careful!
"Yeah, Damon's an ass, but I'm close friends with Stefan. So they're a package deal."
Buffy snorted slightly only to freeze as she spotted the time "Damn, I gotta head to training right now. You guys wanna come?"
"Can't have a lecture and I got a job at the hospital as a candy stripper to help with the bills."
Spotting Buffy about to argue, Elena just raised her hand, offering the already stressed blonde a reassuring smile "There are three of us in the house now. Let me help."
As much as Buffy wanted to say no, she literally couldn't.
"Thank you. I will pop by later and drop you off some food." Buffy promised before she and Willow ran off.
Headed straight for The Magic Box.
**
Walking into The Magic Box, Buffy frowned as sat there in the middle of the shop reading a magazine was her younger cousin. Quirking an eyebrow at the sight she couldn't help but shake her head "How did you get here?"
"The bus." Jeremy explained as he placed down his magazine, an excited grin covering his lips "Wanted to get here in time to see it."
Buffy frowned in confusion at her cousin's words.
She was missing something here.
"It?" She questioned as she snatched the magazine out of Jeremy's hands, ignoring his yell of protest as she turned to face Giles "What's he talking about?"
From behind the countertop, Giles couldn't help but sigh in frustration "Bloody children, impatient."
Jeremy winced as he turned in his seat, throwing the Watcher an apologetic smile.
He actually liked Giles, the guy was pretty chill.
"Sorry."
"It's fine." Giles assured him before looking over at Buffy "Shall we then?"
"We shall then."Buffy grinned "Come on Jer." She said causing Jeremy to grin excitedly, before quickly standing and following them as Giles led them into the back storeroom.
As they entered the room Buffy doesn't have the opportunity to look around as she was suddenly tackled to the ground by her boyfriend who was now laying on top of her laughing loudly.
Buffy groaned as she pushed herself away from him "Ow! Riley!"
"Just keeping you on your toes."
"Or off them." Jeremy pointed out as he helps his cousin up glaring over at Riley slightly. While Riley was nice enough there was something about him that just rubbed Jeremy the wrong way.
Riley was an old-fashioned guy, there was no way that Buffy stronger than him didn't bother him.
Buffy nodded in agreement "What got into—" Her question was quickly forgotten as she finally took in the sight of the room that used to be the storeroom.
Giles had renovated the whole place. Building her the perfect training room. It was a massive improvement from the old Sunnydale High library.
It was perfect.
Between the shock absorption mats to the pommel horse and the wall of knives, it was a Slayer's dream house.
Buffy couldn't help but smile as she took in the room around her, her eyes going from the lined-up weapons to the punching bag "Oh, my god." She breathed "Look at this place."
"This is badass." Jeremy added as he moved towards the wall of knives only to have Xander quickly grab his arm pulling the teenager back and shaking his head quickly "Little Summers' are not allowed. She'll kill us."
Buffy, not bothering to glance in their direction as she walked around the room merely nodded in agreement "Jeremy, don't touch anything."
"Fine." The teenager huffed out in annoyance.
Buffy chuckled before turning back to Giles "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"It's just a start." Giles told her sheepishly "We need a proper space to train, so—"
"I love it." She assured him, throwing him a kind grateful smile. This was beyond amazing.
"So come on." Riley pipped up, playfully drawing The Slayer's attention, clearly excited "Let's test this puppy out. Think you can take me?"
Instead of responding Buffy just continued to move around the space, Riley's words blurring into the background of her mind "This must've been so much work."
Jeremy nodded in agreement as he glanced around, the place was a lot better than the basement back in Mystic Falls that Jenna had let Buffy turn into a 'gym'.
As his eyes scanned the room he paused as he spotted the weird scarecrow in the corner of the room "What's with the scarecrow?"
"It's a dummy." Xander explained gleefully as he made his way over to his creation. Turning to Buffy he tapped the scarecrow, a proud smile grazing his lips "I made the dummy—the thing that you hit that doesn't hit back—that, uh, I made."
Jeremy chuckled "Dude."
"Shh." Buffy told him before turning to Xander "It's great. It's all great."
"Well, you've earned it. Truly." Giles said, a small fatherlike smile covering his lips as he watched her excitement.
Buffy smiled "Thank you guys so much, you're like my fairy godmother and Santa Claus...and 'Q' all wrapped up into one."
Jeremy snorted slightly only to frown as he noticed no one else was understanding the reference "You guys seriously don't get that." He purposely turned to Giles "Come on man, you're British. Don't the British and Bond come as a package deal?"
**
Spike was a problem.
Given how quickly it had taken Angel to sniff them out in Mystic Falls, Damon was determined to make sure Spike didn't run around town spilling secrets at the top of his lungs.
Kicking down the door at Spike's crypt, Damon strolled inside only to have the bleached blonde vampire who was currently watching Dawson's Creek jump.
Damon raised an eyebrow as he watched the vampire in disgust "Seriously? I don't know how she compares us."
"Who the hell are you?!" Spike snapped as he jumped up from his seat glaring at the figure in the darkness.
Just as he caught sight of Damon's face, Spike rolled his eyes "Oh great another one of the Slayer's little pets. Guessing she doesn't know you're one of them huh—"
Damon slammed him up against the wall before he could finish his statement and pressed his fingers into Spike's chest, near his heart "Listen up, Captain Peroxide, you and I are gonna have a little chat."
Spike groaned in pain as Damon continued to press his fingers further into his chest, nails digging through flesh and muscle toward his heart "Oh! Bloody hell! Fine!"
Damon grinned before tossing Spike to the ground, however, Spike jumped up quickly and sent a punch to Damon's face.
Just as he moved to kick Damon, there was a whoosh of air.
Spike groaned in annoyance as he heard Damon now behind him "God I hate your kind."
"Back-acha pal." Damon taunted as he took a seat in Spike's chair before glancing at the TV "Damn love triangles are everywhere these days."
Why Spike watched all of these soap operas and telenovelas, Damon would never understand.
Spike just glared at the other vampire "Look here mate, why don't you want the Slayer to know your little secret?"
"Well, that's for me to know and you not to know. Now listen here, you are not gonna tell Buffy anything, do you understand?"
Spike scoffed "Oh really and what are you gonna do about it?"
Damon merely smirked "Look you may be an impotent little half-breed but trust me when I say you're better off not getting on my bad side. Cause I will have no problem ripping your goddamn head off. So stay away from Buffy."
**
Sunnydale Memorial.
Walking through the halls of the hospital with Riley in search of her doctor-to-be cousin Buffy turned the next corner only to let out a small gasp as she connected face-first with a hard muscular chest.
Looking up her eyes widened as she spotted a very attractive young doctor standing in front of her "Oh, sorry."
The young doctor smiled "No problem. You seem a little lost. Are you looking for something?"
Buffy nodded up at the cute guy as she glanced around the halls "Yeah, my cousin. Her name's Elena Gilbert, she's the new candy stripper."
A small look of recognition crossed the doctor's face "Thought I saw a new face today in that group, I know where she is, I can show you." He offered causing Buffy to smile in relief.
Being around the hospital was getting to her. She hated this place so much but to be fair, she hated all hospitals in general "That would be very much appreciated."
As the Doctor started to lead them down the hall, he glanced back at the couple "I'm Ben, by the way, I'm an intern here."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Buffy. Buffy Summers."
"Riley Finn." The ex-soldier added as he shook Ben's hand.
Ben smiled "It's nice to meet you both."
With that Ben, led them down the hall and as they rounded the next corner and sure enough there standing talking to one of the senior doctors was the woman in question.
Standing there in her light red and white striped apron was Elena Gilbert who grinned as her eyes landed on Buffy and Riley.
Quickly excusing herself from the doctor she had been speaking to, Elena practically skipped over to the pair.
Clearly, she had been having an excellent first day at work.
"Buffy." She said cheerfully as approached and pulled Buffy into a tight hug. While Buffy had said she would come over for lunch, Elena had expected her to ask to meet somewhere else.
The fact that Buffy willingly came to a hospital of all places just showed that they were growing closer again.
"Hey, Elena." Buffy said back as she hugged her cousin tightly before pulling back and smiling over at Ben "Ben, this is Elena."
Elena glanced back over at the handsome intern "Yeah, nice to meet you."
As she handed Elena the piping hot cup of coffee she had brought for her, Buffy glanced back over at Ben with a grateful smile on her face "Thanks for helping me find my cousin."
"It's no problem."
With that, Ben gave them a small wave before rushing off back to work, leaving the trio alone to make their way to the cafeteria.
As the girls focused on food and Riley moved to grab their drinks, Buffy and Elena quickly found a table for them all.
Placing the three trays down, Buffy grinned over at her cousin who looked beyond happy right now "You liking it here then?"
Elena smiled as she glanced around the hospital cafeteria. She had practically grown up in hospitals because of her dad. Being here made her feel more connected to him. It was making her more determined to study medicine as her major next year "Yeah. Actually kinda reminds me of the hospital my dad worked at when I was a kid."
Buffy shrugged her mind flashing back to Celia, watching her die in that hospital bed was something she would never get out of her mind "Still not a big fan of hospitals. But you spend enough time in one you get used to it."
Elena chuckled softly before frowning as she spotted Riley clutching his chest while one of the doctors was watching him closely.
She could see it all over the doctor's face, something was very wrong with Riley.
**
"I know I'm repeating myself here, but I don't know what else to say to convince you. I have never, in all my years of medicine, let a patient...with tachycardia this severe leave a hospital." The Doctor told Riley as he, Buffy, and Elena stood in one of the clinic rooms where the doctor had been examining the ex-military demon hunter.
Riley just continued to button up his shirt "You said you couldn't keep me."
"Legally, no. I can't force you to do a thing, but with that pulse, believe me, I'd get on my knees and beg you if I thought I could change your mind."
With the way Riley's heart rate was going crazy Buffy couldn't help but glance over at Elena with a worried frown on her face. She was hoping Elena would have some idea of what to do but the brunette merely shook her head.
She had never seen someone running around with a heart rate that fast. If someone's heart was this erratic normally they would drop dead.
"You can't." Riley reminded the doctor "I'm goin' home."
The doctor sighed before gesturing to Buffy "And your friend here can't convince you to stay. Miss Gilbert, I'm sure will just tell you the same thing I am telling you—"
Riley just raised his hand silencing her "I'm going."
"All right then. But you're leaving against my recommendation." The doctor then turned to Elena "Miss Gilbert, I know you requested to take part in the demonstration today, there is an open spot. So I expect to see you in 15 minutes is that understood?"
Given that the demonstration was typically only open to college seniors applying for med school, Elena nodded frantically "Yes Doctor Nolan."
As Doctor Nolan left the room, Riley instantly stood intent on leaving only to have Buffy quickly block his path.
"What's going on? What are you doing? What if you have a heart attack?"
Elena nodded in agreement as she grabbed the chart, gulping at the test results "She's right Riley, your blood pressure alone, plus your adrenaline levels this is serious."
If there was something that Elena wanted to stop, it was Buffy watching another boyfriend die.
Riley smiled at both girls reassuringly "Listen to me. Calm down the both of you."
"Me, calm down?" Buffy sputtered "I'm not the one with the pulse of 150."
"My heart's different than yours, Buffy. It works differently now, but it's okay."
Elena piped in "Riley you're human, you could have a heart attack and if you keep going at the pace you are now it's even more likely."
"I'm a human who was used as a lab rat for months." He stated simply not wanting to believe a word that he was hearing.
While Elena merely frowned in confusion not knowing what he was talking about Buffy sighed remembering back to the chip Professor Walsh had shoved into Riley.
A chip that had driven him to utter paranoia.
Buffy couldn't be more worried as she stared up at her boyfriend, just wishing he would listen to the doctor "Riley..."
Suddenly the door opened and another doctor appeared "Miss Gilbert." He said as he spotted the brunette "Your lunch break is over you should be preparing for the demonstration with Dr. Nolan."
"That's right." Riley said quickly, hoping to end their discussion "Elena you gotta get to your demonstration. We should get out of here."
**
"I don't get what he's thinking. Why isn't he worried?"
Buffy was in official panicked babble mode, pacing back and forth in her bedroom as Willow lay across her bed listening to her talk about Riley's condition.
It was definitely concerning given that Riley was human.
Damon who was currently leaning against the door frame eavesdropping on the pair looked over at the blonde "Maybe cause he's a moron."
At the sudden sound of his voice, Buffy jumped and spun around, staring at him in shock.
She hadn't even heard him walk into the house.
How the hell did he keep getting into her house?
"What are you doing here? This is a private conversation, Damon."
Damon just grinned over at Buffy playfully "And I'm a private person." He chuckled before moving into the room like he owned the place and sitting down on one of the chairs.
Buffy groaned in annoyance, knowing that she wasn't going to be getting rid of him anytime soon.
As she continued to stare at him refusing to speak, Damon merely smirked giving her a small wave "Please continue."
Buffy rolled her eyes but moved back to her pacing and glanced at Willow, trying to ignore Damon's presence altogether "What do I do Wil?"
"Maybe he thinks his body can handle it." The red-headed witch offered in hopes of calming down her best friend "He is in really good shape."
"Nobody's body can handle a heart attack." Buffy argued.
Being pumped full of government drugs did not make Riley invincible.
"I know, I'm sorry, Buffy. I'm trying too hard to make it okay."
"I just keep coming back to The Initiative."
Damon raised an eyebrow at Buffy's statement. While he had overheard the doof and Xander discussing The Initiative when he had been eavesdropping on one of their many conversations, it still didn't mean he knew what the hell it meant.
The only thing he truly knew about The Initiative was that hilarious chip they had shoved into Spike's head.
"Isn't that the government monster catchers thing?"
Willow nodded over at him "Yeah, they used Riley as a human lab rat and pumped him full of a lot of drugs to make him a better soldier."
Damon chuckled slightly, causing Buffy to glare at him "One word Damon and I will throw you out of here, head first."
"Fine." He moaned as he leaned back in his seat "I will not speak unless it is important, I will just quietly observe."
Buffy sighed and flopped down her wooden stool right by her drawing desk. The sketchbook Nik had given her rested in the center of the table.
Running shaky hands through her hair as worry for Riley's health continued to plague her, Buffy focused on Willow "I know I have to do something. I just don't know what."
Damon interjected "You know maybe if the doof—"
"Damon!"
"It's important." He assured her causing Buffy to tilt her head in disbelief "I was just gonna say maybe if the doof wasn't such a government tool this wouldn't be happening."
While Buffy rolled her eyes at the dig, Willow sat up as she thought about what Damon had said, something clicking in her brain "Government tool." She whispered, "Call The Initiative. If they know what's wrong with him, they have to help."
Buffy who had been glaring at Damon turned to her best friend "Yeah, but call them how? First of all, they don't exist anymore, and secondly, they never claimed to exist in the first place."
There was literally no way to get in contact with them.
"It's so unfair. It's like big brother can spy on you all the time, and the second I have something to say no one will listen."
Damon rolled his eyes "They're like vampires and demons they are always there, always listening, they know your next move before you do. So here's an idea maybe this government's creepy folk are always listening as well."
At his words, Buffy's face changed suddenly and she grabbed her bag as an idea started to form "I gotta go, I'll see you guys later."
With that, Buffy moved to the door, swiftly grabbing Damon and yanking him to his feet "Hey!" Damon exclaimed as she started dragging him out of her room.
"I don't trust that you won't start going through my stuff." Buffy said as she practically manhandled him down the stairs.
Damon pouted "Oh come on."
Ignoring him, Buffy yanked open the front door and shoved him out of her home "Go home, Damon."
**
"So the boyfriend's sick huh?" Damon questioned the girls as he moved to take a seat in the living room of his new apartment with Stefan.
The place was pretty nice given that it belonged to one of the richest couples in Sunnydale.
Compulsion differently had its benefits.
"Saves me the job of killing him myself if he has a heart attack."
"Damon!" Elena exclaimed.
They couldn't just let Riley die!
"Just kidding." He assured her before smirking slightly as the image of ripping Riley's head off filled his mind "Actually not really, but still."
"You're an ass." Bonnie told him simply before trying to change the subject so they didn't have to discuss Damon's clear jealousy "How's it going on triggering Buffy's memory?"
At the mention of the mission that was currently driving him nuts, Damon quirked an eyebrow "Oh operation get the Buffster's bongos back? Oh extremely well." He mumbled sarcastically as he stood and moved to the bar pouring himself a drink "She now remembers everything and is ready to run off into the sunset with all of us."
Elena rolled her eyes "Be serious Damon."
"A few flashes here and there but not important enough to cause a burst through with the wave of memory."
They clearly needed something to make a dent in Buffy's head, a memory important enough that it would trigger something inside of her.
But then again, even if they found a strong enough memory, there was still no guarantee that it would be strong enough to break through the lock that the potion had on her mind.
"Well, do you think there are any important moments between the two of you that might trigger a bigger memory?"
At the question, Damon couldn't help but clench his jaw tightly.
There were a few events that meant more to him than anything. Clenching his eyes shut, images of that bright smile filled his brain.
"Damon, don't...don't do this."
The panic in Buffy's eyes caused a small sad smile to graze Damon's lips. Yet despite, her begging him not to he took a step closer, her necklace still tightly wrapped around his palm.
He had to tell her.
At least once.
Staring into those terrified green eyes of hers, eyes he was completely in love with, Damon faltered for a brief second.
But despite his own terror... he pushed through.
"No. I just have to say it once. You just need to hear it. I love you, Buffy. And it's because I love you that...I can't be selfish with you. Why you can't know this. I don't deserve you...but my brother does."
"I killed Angel to save the world...and yeah maybe I care about you a little...but if you try and get her to die so I don't get Klaus-napped...I will kill you."
As much as Damon wanted to believe that in her heart Buffy would never be able to hill him, just looking into her eyes now, he could see it.
If it came down to him or Bonnie, he would be the one on the sharp end of a stake.
As much as he hated it...he knew she wasn't lying.
"Okay..." He whispered.
With that, Buffy finally stepped away from him "We'll find another way. Or I'm gonna find mine. And it will be one that neither you nor Stefan likes."
"I hope so."
"Good. We understand each other. Goodnight Damon."'
As Buffy turned to leave Damon found himself stopping her. While he could respect what she was saying, it didn't change his mind.
If it came down to it, he would let Bonnie die, even if it meant Buffy turned around and killed him. At the end of the day, he wanted Buffy to actually have a life, one that didn't revolve around being Klaus for the rest of her life.
He wanted her to survive this... no matter the cost to his own life.
"Let me be clear about something. If it comes down to you and the witch again, I will gladly let Bonnie die, I will let Elena die if it comes to that. I will always choose you."
"Hey, you remember my promise? From our trip to Atlanta."
Damon laughed weakly as he rested his head against the pillow and glanced up at Buffy who was sitting beside him with a weak grin on her lips "That if anyone was going to kill me, it was going to be you."
"Exactly." Buffy teased before wiping away more sweat from his brows "Which means that you aren't allowed to die yet. Werewolf bite? Way too lame? If you are going to go it's gonna be dramatic as hell. We're talking explosions the whole jest."
"Maybe in another life." Damon coughed out weakly before slowly reaching out and taking her hand squeezing it softly "I've made a lot of choices that have gotten me here. I deserve this. I deserve to die."
Spotting the conflict in her eyes, Damon just squeezed her hand tighter.
Truthfully, despite how much he knew he was in love with her... Buffy Summers had also somehow become his best friend.
Pressing her head back against the headboard, Buffy inhaled tightly as she glared up at the ceiling "Probably. You suck, no arguing with that."
"You still suck at comforting me."
"Shh, I'm making a point." She snapped slapping his shoulder lightly before focusing back on her speech "What I am trying to say...is not everyone is truly good and not everyone is completely evil. You suck because you choose to be a dick. That doesn't mean you can't try to care. I know you love Stefan. So Damon, if he gets this cure, you try. You make things right, for him...and for yourself. Make yourself someone you don't hate seeing in the mirror every morning."
"You make it sound so simple." Damon coughed out cueing a weak smile from her as she wiped his forehead again.
"It's not. But that's what makes it worth it."
Damon took in a shaky breath before turning to lie on his back, gazing up at the ceiling as a stray tear worked its way down his cheek "I'll try." He whispered before turning his face on the pillow, his eyes drilling into her "But...if I had chosen differently, I wouldn't have met you. You kicking my ass constantly it's been a ride. I am so sorry, for the things that I have done to hurt you."
Inhaling tightly, Buffy couldn't help but blink back tears, they were running out of time here, he was trying to end things on good terms "It's okay." She whispered, slightly lying but at this point, he had probably minutes left "I've had worse, you've actually been pleasant sometimes."
As Damon's breathing began to get weaken, he knew what he had to do. In his final moments, he knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to reveal the truth to her, the truth he had been hiding for so long. If he was going to die he wanted her to know how he felt "I know you love Stefan. And it will always be Stefan. But I love you. You should know that."
"I do believe you. I don't like it."
He laughed.
"Not surprised... You should have met me in 1864." Damon told her, a weak laugh escaping his lips "You would have liked me."
Buffy chuckled softly before leaning forward and placing a soft kiss on his forehead
"I will admit it. Just this once... I care..." Pulling back she squeezed his hand softly "You're my friend."
Her words brought a small smile to his face as his breathing became more strained "You had to wait till I was on my deathbed to admit it?"
Buffy laughed softly as she leaned her head back against the headboard and nudged him lightly with her foot "Plausible deniability. You would have never let me forget it otherwise."
"Damon? Damon!"
At the sound of the doppelganger's screaming voice, Damon shook himself from his past moments with Buffy.
Key moments between them.
Moments she no longer remembered which just tortured him all the more.
"Nothin' that comes to mind." Damon mumbled as he finally glanced back at the girls, keeping his expression blank "What about you Bon-Bon how's the spell going?"
Damon seriously needed this conversation topic to change as quickly as possible.
Both Elena and Bonnie shared a look neither one of them buying Damon's words.
He was too desperate to change the subject.
"I have everything I need to do the spell to find out the cure for Buffy's memory but the only thing I'm missing is..."
"The mystical memory potion thing got it." Damon finished, "I'll call Stef, and see where we are on that."
Damon started to head for the door before turning back to Elena and Bonnie, clapping his hands together loudly "Chop Chop girls I doubt the blonde vampire dick is gonna stay quiet for long so we need Buffy's memory back like yesterday."
"We're working on it, Damon." Elena snapped before she and Bonnie turned to the books currently splayed on the table.
At that moment, Elena's phone rang, the sound echoing through the air "It's Buffy." She told them before answering "Hey Buffy—Riley no I haven't seen him—Buffy what's going on?... Okay, we will be there. Good luck."
Bonnie looked over at Elena "What is it?"
"Riley's missing, it's bad if he doesn't get help now, he's gonna die."
"Oh god." Bonnie breathed "What do you need me to do?"
"We should go help them look. They are at The Magic Box. We will meet them there."
Bonnie nodded and quickly moved to get her things while Elena turned to face Damon "Damon could you—"
The front door slammed shut.
Damon was gone.
"...help."
**
CHICAGO
"Will you hurry up." Katherine moaned as she and Stefan made their way through the Original's Chicago home looking for the vault holding the vial of memory potion that they needed.
Their only hope at possibly curing Buffy and stopping The Fallen Slayer Prophecy.
Stefan couldn't help but glare over at the elder vampire "We can't just bust through the door, Katherine. And I haven't exactly picked a lock in a couple of decades."
Katherine rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly "This is pointless."
Stefan ignored her and continued to try and pick the lock.
Then his phone rang.
"I'll get it." Katherine said, with a grin on her face, as she grabbed the phone from his jacket.
"Hey!" Stefan exclaimed as he turned to her. As he tried to grab the phone Katherine placed a hand against his chest, shoving him against the wall with very little effort as she answered the phone "Shh, I'm on the phone."
"Hello?"
"Katherine?" Damon groaned at the sound of her voice "Where's my brother?"
Katherine smiled "Damon. Nice to hear from you too. Stefan? He's currently detained."
"I don't have time for this Katherine, give the phone to Stefan."
Katherine rolled her eyes "Fine, buzz kill and here I thought I was being polite." She huffed out before tossing the phone to Stefan "Hurry up. We don't know how long it will be till Klaus gets back."
As Stefan caught the phone he glared at Katherine before quickly walking around the corner so she wouldn't be able to eavesdrop "Damon, now's really not a good time."
"Yeah tell me about it. Buffy is making this whole helping her thing very...very difficult."
"What do you mean? Are the flashes not working?"
"Nada." Damon told him "We managed to get a few here and there but nothing concrete. Plus, the fact that she may be getting a bit suspicious doesn't help."
Stefan arched an eyebrow at that. This was not good. He had only been gone for a week, how were things worse already?
"Suspicious. Damon, what did you do?"
"Why did you assume it was me?" Instead of answering, Stefan kept quiet.
Damon groaned in annoyance "Alright fine, she caught me watching her yesterday while she was patrolling."
"Damon!" Stefan hissed angrily "You're supposed to pretend to be normal. Normal people don't hang around in cemeteries, especially when they know it's on the Hellmouth."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever it's all my fault. Got it, I'll deal with it. Look we need that cure, sooner rather than later, 'cause trust me, brother, she's gonna find out about you and me being not so normal sooner or later and I'd rather she not try and stab me with something wooden and sharp when she eventually finds out."
Stefan sighed, rubbing his head in frustration "I found Mary, she agreed to help. Katherine and I are getting the vial now."
"Just hurry it along brother, now I've got to go watch the Slayer's boyfriend on his deathbed. Bye now."
Stefan's eyes widened.
What the hell was going on in Sunnydale right now?
"Wait what—"
As he is met with nothing but silence Stefan groaned only to roll his eyes when Katherine cleared her throat loudly from behind him.
"You done now?" She asked, "Can we get back to breaking and entering now?"
**
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
"He's not at the library. He's gone somewhere where he doesn't want to be found." Buffy informed the group as they all sat around in The Magic Box, trying to track down the currently missing Riley Finn who had disappeared into thin air.
Anya who was standing behind the register shrugged "So, basically, he's gone AWOL."
Buffy nodded "Basically exactly."
Elena sighed as she watched her worried cousin, she felt pretty much useless right now. She didn't know anything about Sunnydale or where Riley would go to hide "Are you sure there is nowhere else he could go?"
"I went everywhere I could think of. But, if I don't get him to the doctor's..."
"Buffy don't worry we will find him." Willow assured the blonde. She could see how worried Buffy was, hell she was close to freaking out at this point.
"How?" Buffy asked as she waved her arms around in a desperate panic "Riley is in real danger here and we have no leads." She huffed out "Guess we're starting from scratch. Xander, Anya, could you check the docks?"
Xander offered her a smile "Aye, aye."
Wanting nothing more than to help, Willow turned to Buffy "Tara and I can scope out the burned-out school. Riley hid there once. Bonnie do you wanna come, three witches are better than two."
Bonnie nodded and quickly turned to Buffy "Anything I can do to help...maybe I could try a locator spell."
"Thank you." Buffy smiled at Bonnie before shaking her head, letting her know the help was un-needed.
She didn't want to force Bonne to help them it wasn't fair to her. Just offering to go with Willow and Tara was too much.
"Maybe he feels it's homey or something." Willow suggested.
At that suggestion, Buffy froze "Homey. You know what else he might find homey in a dank unpleasant, evil sort of way? The Initiative caves, but I don't know them too well."
Elena couldn't help but frown in confusion, trying to figure out what the hell they were talking about "Initiative caves?"
Buffy glanced at her cousin "This is part of the year of crazy freshman antics, I haven't explained everything yet."
She so did not have the time to dive into a full history class right now.
Elena just leaned forward "Okay. That's for another day then. So what do we do? If he is in these caves how are we supposed to find him?"
"We do have an associate who knows those caves like the back of his melanin-deprived hand." Giles pointed out as he took another sip of tea.
Buffy huffed, clearly unhappy with this solution. If there was one thing in the world she didn't want to do, it was to spend time with Spike of all people "I so don't want to deal with Spike right now. The guy is really starting to bug me in that special...I want to shove something wooden through his heart kind of way."
"He does seem extra twitchy lately." Willow added, "Maybe the whole not killing is gettin' to him."
**
"Buffy! Buffy wait up!"
At the sound of Elena practically screeching her name, Buffy spun around and sure enough, spotted the brunette running over to her.
Buffy rolled her eyes, as much as she loved Elena, right now she was in no mood to deal with her weird desire to be constantly involved in plans. She needed to find Riley before he got sicker or worse his heart gave out "Elena? What are you doing? I have to go find Riley. I don't have time for this."
Just as she turned back around and started to walk off again, Elena spoke up "Let me help you."
Buffy couldn't help but frown in confusion. Elena barely knew Riley and this was dangerous. There was no way she was letting Elena in those caves or hell anywhere near Spike.
Why in any world would Elena think she would let her get involved?
"What?"
Elena sighed "I wanna help. Please Buffy you can't search those caves by yourself plus if you're gonna be with Spike it's best to have someone who will have your back as well."
As much as she appreciated Elena's sentiment, she couldn't keep Elena safe while also searching for Riley "Elena as sweet as that is. No. Look go home, I've lost enough family already, I don't want to lose anymore."
Reaching into her pocket, Buffy tossed over her car keys before giving her cousin a pointed glare "Take my car and go home. Lock the doors. Be safe."
**
Sure enough, Elena Gilbert had not done what Buffy had requested.
Instead of driving straight back to the Summers' house, the brunette was speeding through town to the forest where she knew the caves were located.
As she drives her eyes scanned the area, and quickly spotted Buffy helping a weak Riley through the woods as he clung onto her.
He was fading fast.
Pulling the car over in front of them abruptly Elena quickly leaned her head out of the window "Buffy!"
"Elena?!" Buffy exclaimed in disbelief as her eyes widened, while she should have guessed Elena wouldn't listen to her she had been hoping for once Elena would actually do as she asked.
Instead of putting herself in danger.
"What the hell are you doing here, I thought I told you to go home."
"Yell later." Elena told her as she climbed out of the Jeep and moved to help Riley, helping Buffy lead him to the backseat "Let's just get him to a hospital."
As they piled Riley into the backseat Buffy turned on Elena "This is Sunnydale, Elena. You can't just run around a do whatever you want."
"I am so grounded aren't I?"
Scoffing Buffy slammed the backseat door shut before snatching her car keys back "Big time." She snarked as she climbed into the driver's seat while Elena jumped into the passenger seat.
Elena merely rolled her eyes as she securesd her seatbelt while Buffy put the car into drive, which was always a terrifying experience.
"Well, at least I don't drive like a crazy person."
"I do not!"
**
While Buffy carried a barely standing Riley who was fading fast, Elena pushed open the door to the hospital room where the Initiative doctors were waiting. However, a gasp of shock escaped her as her eyes landed on the four unconscious men lying on the floor.
The room had been completely destroyed, broken medical equipment ripped apart and scattered everywhere in shambles.
"What happened?" She uttered as Buffy and Riley quickly rushed over to one of the guys.
It looked like a tornado had passed through.
"Graham?" Riley whispered, shaking his old friend trying to bring him back to the land of the conscious.
When Graham stirred Riley quickly helped him sit up "How many fingers I got up?" He asked as he held up four fingers in front of the soldier's face.
"Seventeen." Graham mumbled weakly barely able to keep his eyes open as he glanced up at Riley with a dazed expression "Hostile 17 and a blonde girl."
Elena turned to Buffy, horror, and dread filling her. There were quite a few stories Buffy had told her over the past month, and if what she was thinking was true, they were so screwed "Hostile 17 wasn't that—"
Buffy nodded quicking finishing her cousin's sentence for her "Spike. The blonde would be Harmony. Together again."
This was not good for them.
"Where's the doctor?" Elena asked as she quickly started searching the room again.
"Spike must've taken him." Buffy realized before she turned to Graham "What would Spike want with—"
Before she could finish her question, everything clicked into place. A dark shiver rushed down her spine as she realized what was happening.
Buffy knew what Spike wanted.
The Chip.
The one thing that was keeping Spike from being who he was; the thing holding him back. He was going to force the doctor to finally free him "The chip. He's gonna force the doctor to remove the chip from his brain."
Elena's eyes widened "Buffy, what happens if Spike gets that chip out?"
"Nothing good. Let's just say—" Buffy cut herself off as she noticed Riley clutch his chest, panic instantly filled her "Riley?"
No, no, no.
Riley just shook his head "I'm okay. I'm okay."
Lie.
Shooting Elena a look, the brunette nodded in understanding and moved over to Riley ready to start CPR if his heart gave out.
With Elena standing by, Graham sighed before moving over to Buffy, Riley was definitely far from okay "We're running out of time. If we don't find the medic soon, he's not gonna make it."
Buffy was officially starting to panic "Okay. Okay. Brain surgery. He's gonna need a medical facility. He's gonna need equipment."
Elena's eyes widened, an idea quickly forming "The University. Spike's not going to risk it here, but there are lecture halls where we can watch live surgery. All the equipment he could need is there."
Buffy shot her a grateful look before turning back to Graham "We'll try there that's our best bet. Graham, check vet hospitals just in case we're wrong."
It was official, she was done babying Spike and his stupid chip. He was gone from this plane of existence the second she got her hands on him "When I get my hands on Spike, I'm gonna rip his head off. I'm gonna tear him apart!"
**
"Elena stay in the car." Buffy ordered as she and Riley stepped out of the Jeep heading straight for the University.
Now that she had to worry about fighting off Spike and Harmony, she didn't have time to keep Elena out of harm's way.
"What?!" Elena exclaimed in disbelief as she rushed out of the car before turning to the blonde shaking her head rapidly "No, Buffy you can't go in there alone."
"She's not." Riley added as he struggled to walk causing Elena to quirk an eyebrow before she rolled her eyes as she turned back to her cousin.
Right now she was more help than Riley.
It was almost funny that two years ago a half-dead Riley still would have been more useful in a fight than Elena Gilbert.
But things had changed. Buffy's disappearance had changed Elena.
"Buffy, Riley can barely stand, if Spike has gotten the chip out, you're gonna need help. I'm trained to fight. Let me help you."
As she stared into her cousin's beginning gaze, Buffy found herself hesitating. She didn't want anything to happen to Elena. But at the same time, Elena was right, she needed help so she could handle Spike and she knew Elena would just rush in any way no matter what she said "This is not a good idea." She muttered before taking a deep breath "If you get yourself killed. I'm telling."
Though, there was literally no one left to tell so it was an empty threat.
Elena couldn't help but smile successfully as the three of them began rushing into the university, quickly making their way through the halls of the school "So what's the plan?"
Buffy shrugged "Well, I'm gonna kill Spike and Harmony, just get the doctor, we're gonna need him."
Elena nodded as she reached into her back pocket and pulled out one of the Chinese ring daggers that Alaric had given Buffy.
A weapon that had been left behind.
"Doctor got it."
Buffy quirked an eyebrow at the blade "Cool." She breathed as she continued to stare at the weapon.
There was something so familiar about it.
Shaking off the feeling, Buffy reached into her bag and tossed Elena a stake "This might be more effective. I don't want you fighting but I don't want to take any chances by leaving you with just that awesome knife. It won't kill them unless you have the strength to cut their heads off."
Buffy then tossed her a bottle of holy water "Use this if either of them come at you. It won't kill them, but it will hurt like hell and send them screaming like little girls."
Walking into the lecture theatre at the end of the hall, the three of them rushed down the steps into the medical room and sure enough they spotted: The Doctor, Harmony, and Spike, who was still lying on the exam table.
They were too late.
The Chip had been removed.
Spike's head immediately shot to Buffy, a murderous grin filling his features "Slayer!" He growled before jumping off the bed.
As Harmony and Spike moves to stand opposite the three, Elena clutched the stake tightly in her hands just as Spike smirked over at them "Suit up, Harm."
As both vampires' faces began to shift, Buffy noticed the doctor moving towards the exit but pushed him to the ground "Stay here. We're gonna need you."
Spike continued to grin in excitement "Buffy. I swear I was just thinking of you. I wanted to tell you the great news. My head's all clear now. No more bug-zapper in my noggin."
Buffy tilted her head "Means I get to kill you."
"You get to try."
As the five of them all glared at each, staring off, everything was kicked into gear as Harmony, ever the clutz accidentally sent an arrow from the crossbow in her hands right into Riley's leg.
Elena's eyes widen in panic before quickly shoving him back as Harmony tried to attack him. Spinning around Elena swung her leg out, sending a sharp kick to the vampire's chest before leaping over the examining table and knocking the crossbow from her hands.
Harmony's eyes widened before she glared over at Elena in annoyance "Who the hell are you?"
Elena sighed "You kidnapped me a few weeks ago. God, you are a dimwit."
Harmony punched her in the face.
Elena grunted before sending another kick to the vampire's chest.
As the two women battled, Spike watched for a second before turning to Buffy, smirking playfully "I like your new girl. She's spicy. Won't be as tasty as you though."
Buffy glared at him before punching him in the face and sending up an uppercut to his jaw, causing him to stumble back onto the hospital bed.
Elena dodged another blow from Harmony only blonde to grab her and toss her across the room.
Wincing, Elena stabbed her dagger into Harmony's foot as she approached before grabbing the IV pole next to her and slamming it across Harmony's jaw with it.
Spike leaped onto the bed and growled as he looked down at Buffy "At long last."
Buffy glared up at him before the sight of Elena taking another hit from Harmony filled her vision "Elena!" She screamed only to have Spike take advantage of her distraction and jump at her, tackling her to the ground.
As the two rolled across the floor, Spike managed to climb on top of her and dived for her neck.
Buffy's eyes widened in panic.
Struggling against him, she grunted and screamed as she tried to get him to release her arms, luckily for her though Spike let out a howl before his teeth could touch her neck and sat up grasping his head in pain.
The Chip was still in his head.
Buffy stared at him in shock before punching him in the face and tossing him off of her.
She just couldn't believe it, he still had the chip.
Elena grunted in pain as Harmony kicked her in the stomach. Ignoring the pain, she quickly managed to block the next blow and punched Harmony in the gut, releasing the two stakes kept in the device Alaric had given to her when they were training in Mystic Falls.
Harmony groaned in pain as she stumbled back "You bitch!" She exclaimed as she clutched her bleeding stomach.
Elena just smiled "No, I'm just learning."
Before she could get another word in though, Elena froze as she spotted Riley grasping his chest, screaming in agony.
Riley was officially out of time.
As Elena rushed over to him, Buffy stumbled up to her feet, her eyes widening in terror as she spotted the deteriorating state of her boyfriend "Riley!" She screamed just as he completely collapsed into Elena's arms.
Crawling over the pair, Buffy sputtered as she watched Elena thump her crossed hands against Riley's chest, desperately trying to keep his heart beating.
"He's alive but barely."
Buffy's eyes widened and she searched the room for the doctor "Oh, god. Doctor! Doctor, we need you now!"
**
Riley was okay.
The Doctor had managed to fix him up at the very last second, a minute later and he would have been dead.
As Riley rested inside, Buffy made her way over to her car, where Elena was leaning against the hood waiting to hear the news about Riley.
As she approached her cousin, Buffy crossed her arms over her chest "What you did. Was incredibly stupid."
Elena sighed "Look—"
"Elena, you could have been killed!" Buffy exclaimed in frustration as she threw her arms into the air. While she appreciated the help, nothing was stronger than the bond of family and watching Elena take a beating... It had killed her inside.
"Elena, I have lost too many people in my life already. You can't just show up, give me family again, and then put yourself in danger like this it's—"
Elena let out a small breath as Buffy continued to yell at her before slowly despite the yelling a bright smile covered her lips.
She threw her arms around Buffy, happy tears streaming down her face as she clutched onto her.
Buffy was frozen for a second before squeezing Elena back just as tightly.
"I'm sorry. But it's the same for me, Buffy. I don't want to lose anyone else. Especially not you or Jeremy. So if you think I'm not gonna help you, you're dead wrong."
Buffy chuckled slightly before pulling away, wiping away the tears that had formed on her face "Still, I'm built for this, you...are not." She gestured to the growing bruise on Elena's cheek "But...thank you. I couldn't have saved him without you."
Elena smiled for a second only to groan at what Buffy said next "But if you do it again, I will lock you in the house for eternity."
"I am a Summers at heart." Elena joked "I'll sneak out the window."
Buffy rolled her eyes but a small smile grazed her lips at the comment "That you are."
"Yep."
Shaking her head in amusement, Buffy lopped her arm through Elena's "Come on let's get home. Your lip is bleeding, we got to get some ice on that."
Elena frowned and touched her lip only to instantly regret it "Ow."
Buffy laughed "Told you so."
**
CHICAGO
Walking into Klaus's living room, the two vampires eyed the lavish home closely in search of a certain painting.
The painting Mary had told them to look for.
As Katherine scanned the room, she couldn't help but smirk as she spotted the familiar Renaissance painting in the middle of the room. Strolling over as her heels clicked against the wooden floors, she carefully lifted the painting off the wall to reveal the safe.
The safe currently holding the key to their salvation.
"This is it." Katherine told Stefan before a sly smirk covered her lips as she took a step toward him "You sure you want the old Buffy back?" She flirted "I'm sure you and I could have so much fun together."
Stefan merely rolled his eyes at her words, she never stopped "Goodbye Katherine."
Scoffing the brunette flipped her hair over her shoulder before glaring in his direction "Fine. But just make sure Blondie kills the big bad wolf. Me and Mary don't fancy being on the run forever."
Stefan ignored her comments as he made his way over to the safe only to freeze. While he knew this thing was spelled so it couldn't be pulled apart with vampire strength, Mary had conveniently forgotten to mention that it needed a damn combination.
"Katherine, what is the combination?" Stefan asked as he turned to face her only to realize she was long gone "Dammit!"
Pacing around the room running his hand through his hair, Stefan tried to think about what it could be. He didn't have long till Klaus would return, this was his only chance to get the sample.
He was not leaving Chicago without it.
Quickly he started searching the room in hopes of finding something or anything that could give him at least a vague idea of what the combination could be. As he dug through Klaus's desk he frowned as he spotted a worn notebook.
It was probably centuries old.
Opening the book Stefan's eyes widened in horror.
Everything was about Buffy.
There were thousands of drawings of her in the book and the same date written over and over.
"May 22nd?" Stefan read before frowning in confusion.
What was so important about May 22nd and what did it have to do with Buffy?
Stefan continued to think for a second before he approached the safe, this was the only idea he could think of.
He just hoped he wasn't about to screw up.
2-2-0-5.
There was a long pause of silence before to his surprise there was a click and the mechanism released.
The safe was open.
Stefan smiled in relief and quickly pulled out the elixir. Making sure all evidence of his presence was gone, he sped out of the house.
It was time to get the hell back to Sunnydale.