Seeing Red
by TheBear
Chapter 1
[reviews]
BTW- Those of you that are entierly clueless, read this disclaimer- everyone else can skip it.
Disclaimer: I don't own them, Joss does. All hail the great and mighty Joss. Hey! Don't look behind that curtain!
Part 1
========== BtVS ==========
Buffy and Willow were walking hand in hand through one of Sunnydale's many cemeteries, talking, laughing, and generally having a good time. It had taken a week after Jenny Calendar's funeral before they could just laugh without feeling guilty.
It had been a busy week.
========== BtVS ==========
After spending that first afternoon making out for the first time, Buffy and Willow had gone to Giles, and Buffy had to explain how she had slipped and told her mom about being the slayer. Giles didn't comment on the two girls holding hands the entire time they were there. For their part, Buffy and Willow didn't bring up the subject of their relationship- neither feeling comfortable talking about such things with Giles when he had essentially just lost his girlfriend- or at least potential girlfriend.
Giles had resignedly agreed to speak with Buffy's mother after the funeral, to explain about vampires and slayers. In the end they had to take the elder Summers on an abbreviated patrol in order to convince her. Buffy had been adamantly against it at first, and when it was about to turn into a shouting match between mother and daughter, Willow had stepped in and salvaged the situation.
She had been sitting quietly, afraid to draw attention to herself as it was the first instance where she was spending any significant amount of time in the presence of Mrs. Summers since she and Buffy had begun their relationship. Willow had been extremely nervous- certain that Buffy's mom would have negative feelings for her. In her nightmares Buffy's mom reviled her, accusing her of corrupting and perverting her daughter- forbidding her from ever seeing Buffy again. Finally, she couldn't stand the thought of Buffy and her mom ending up in a screaming match, and she had grabbed the slayer's hand and dragged her out of the room. After trying reason, she ended up putting on her resolve face and telling Buffy that she *would* be bringing her mother with them that night- they would have the whole Scooby gang there, and they would camp out at the gravesite and wait for Jess Wheldon, a vamp victim buried that afternoon , to rise. They would stake him and then take Mrs. Summers home.
Buffy, surprised by her girlfriend's commanding tone, had meekly acquiesced. It was even money who was more surprised when she walked back in to the living room and quietly announced the decision- her mom or her watcher.
Events had progressed as expected; Wheldon had risen, been staked, and reduced to dust. They had led a bewildered Joyce Summers back to the house where she and Giles had a long talk over a fairly tall glass of whiskey while Buffy and Willow had retired to the back porch for some quiet cuddling,
The week had settled into a routine after that night- Willow would meet Buffy at her house so they could walk to school together, then it was classes, research in the library, then some heavy patrolling- mixed with a little light petting. So far, they hadn't made any effort to rush the physical stuff. There was lots of kissing- both the long languid gentle kind and the deep, hot, breath-taking kind. There was groping; but over-clothes only; neither was quite ready to cross that line... yet. Both of them knew that it wouldn't be long.
========== BtVS ==========
Buffy laughed out loud as Willow- barely restraining her giggles- said, "And then... Giles face... when your mom when your mom said, 'So Buffy fights these vampires and demons...'" she trailed off, unable to contain her laughter.
Buffy continued the thought, "...and and you..."
"...Read Books?" they both shouted, dissolving into insane laughter as they remembered the flustered look on Giles face and his stuttering attempt to explain the importance of research.
They held each other in their arms to keep from collapsing completely. After a moment, their laughter died down and they gazed into each other's eyes for several moments. Smiles faded from hilarity and took on a new look as desire began to build. Their arms tightened around one another, bodies pressing firmly together as their breathing sped up and their eyes dilated in arousal.
Just as they were about to kiss, a rude voice rang out from several meters away, "Ooo lookie here, Marty! We got us a couple of Lezzies!"
A second voice responded from near the first, "I do believe you're right, Nixon."
Buffy closed her eyes and growled in frustration. Not even turning her head, she loudly said, "Hey! We're having a moment here. Why don't you two piss off?!"
Marty turned to Nixon and said, "These two want to have a moment of happiness..."
Marty paused as Nixon answered, "I don't think we can allow that, can we?"
Marty shook his head, agreeing with Nixon, "I'm pretty sure that's against the rules." Coming up with an idea, he said, "I know- lets kill the blonde and take turns showing that redhead what a man can do!"
Nixon was about to say something when he found a stake suddenly protruding from his chest.
Marty watched in horror as Nixon turned to dust.
Buffy was shouting as she attacked the stunned vamp, "Why can't you people ever let us have a single freaking moment of joy..." she paused as she dislocated the vampire's jaw with a powerful roundhouse punch. "...or love without ruining it?!" she finished as she followed up the punch with a spinning backfist, again striking the damaged jaw and knocking the vamp to its knees as he cradled his ruined face in his hands.
Willow, having recovered Buffy's stake, took that moment to exclaim her own frustration as she drove the wood home, "All we wanted to do was have a little moment of contentment, but NO, you had to ruin it!"
Buffy smiled at her girlfriend as they watched the vamp collapse into ash, "I get really tired of those jerks messing up our fun!"
Willow smiled back, "I know what you mean!" Moving to take Buffy in her arms, she added, "Now, where were we?"
Buffy was at that moment struck with a dizzy spell and almost collapsed in Willow's arms, "Whoa!"
Willow, instantly concerned, asked, "Are you ok Buffy?"
Buffy recovered after a moment and said, "Yeah, I think so... That was weird!"
Willow put her hand on Buffy's cheek and felt the heat. Moving it to her forehead she let out a low moan of frustration, "Buffy, you're burning up!"
"Wadaya mean?" she demanded.
Willow was torn between concern for her apparently sick girlfriend, and frustration at the unresolved tension. "Buffy, I think you've got the flu."
Buffy closed her eyes and groaned, "Dammit! I wanted to..."
Willow began to lead the sick slayer back to her house, "I know, baby. Me too..."
Buffy whined as they walked, "Stupid Flu!"
========== BtVS ==========
Xander shook his head at Cordelia's complaining. She wanted to know why they had to patrol before they went to the bronze. "Of course," he thought, "She complains, but she still does it."
"I *told* you," Willow said, her patience strained by Cordy's incessant complaints. "Buffy's sick. The least we can do is take over patrolling for a few nights," she said with a sigh. "Xander isn't helping any either!" she thought, uncharitably. She knew that Xander had a conflicting obligation between his best friend and his girlfriend, and was wisely keeping his mouth shut, but she still wished he would just shut her up.
Switching conversational gears without a clutch was another annoying habit Cordelia had. "I don't understand. How come you're not sick?"
Puzzled by the abruptly changed subject, Willow said, "Huh?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes, explaining, "Well, the way you guys are sucking face all the time..."
Willow's eyes narrowed in anger, "Hey! Do I bring up you and Xander's supply-closet shenanigans? No! I think not!"
As Cordelia was about to say something else, Xander jumped in, waving his hand up and down between them and whistling. "Ok! Time Out! In case you haven't noticed, we are in a grave yard. If you guys don't keep it down you're going to scare away all the vampires!"
Cordelia just rolled her eyes again, saying, "Whatever. Let's just get this done. You owe me a night of dancing at the bronze- although describing what you do out on the floor as 'dancing' might be too generous..."
Willow's eyes bugged out as she looked at Xander smiling at Cordelia's words, even as he gave a half-hearted "Hey!" She couldn't for the life of her understand why Xander would put up with the constant insults.
========== BtVS ==========
Willow didn't see what Xander saw when he looked at Cordy. The way her eyes would sparkle, and the corners of her mouth would twitch up when she and he traded insults. It was like a weird kind of foreplay between them, and they both got excited when it happened. They couldn't argue for more than a couple minutes before they were locked together at the mouth, kissing and groping. Maybe no one else could understand it, but they always knew when the barbs were the fun, sexy kind, and when they weren't.
Not that such exchanges had led to actual sex yet. The closest they had come had- not surprisingly- come in one of the supply closets at school. They had ended up having a heated exchange in the lunch room, where they couldn't immediately act on it, and had continued the argument for several minutes before they walked away from one another in a huff. Everybody that witnessed it probably thought they were incredibly pissed off at one another- really, they were just taking separate routes to one of their favorite closets. There had been no need to arrange it ahead of time, they just both knew right where to go.
Within seconds of the door closing they were clawing at each other's tops, nearly tearing the fabric in the process. Cordy was so worked up that she didn't even comment when her $250 angora sweater ended up crumpled in a ball on the floor. Xander had stroked and kneaded her breasts, toying with her nipples, while she ran her hands over his back, marking the skin with her nails. They ended up dry-humping for several minutes before breaking off in frustration. Desperate as he was, Xander would never force the issue, and they both knew there was no way Cordelia Chase was getting fully naked, let alone horizontal, in a closet at school.
Anyone who knew Cordelia stayed the hell out of her way that afternoon. Frustration had put her into ‹ber-Bitch mode for the rest of the day. She actually had one sophomore football player in tears after she caught him staring at her ass as she got in her locker between classes. Xander had just skipped the rest of his classes that day. He went home and jerked off three times before he was able to once again face civilized society without sporting a raging hard-on. He didn't even need a dirty mag to fantasize to- the memory of Cordy's flaring nostrils and flashing eyes as they ripped into one another verbally was more than enough to work with.
========== BtVS ==========
Back to the present, Xander had managed to establish quiet, if not peace between the girls, and they were prowling the cemetery looking for a vamp to stake.
Willow was trying to put Cordy's comment out of her head. Not because she was embarrassed that the tactless wonder knew about, or even commented on, Willow and Buffy's not infrequent make out sessions- but rather because she was feeling withdrawal pangs from missing just such activities.
Yesterday, they had both been too busy and preoccupied to have any 'face time' as Buffy had jokingly referred to it. There had been tacit plans for a serious make-up session during patrol; had been until Marty and Nixon had ruined things. Then the flu bug struck, and even though Willow was quite willing to have the flu in exchange for some quality Buffy kissage- Buffy wouldn't hear of it.
"Buffy! I'll probably get it anyway- half the school is down with it. I might as well take advantage of the opportunity to have a little fun getting it, rather than by way of someone in my general vicinity coughing in my direction," she had reasoned
Buffy had remained firm in her denial of Willow's advances. She had, however, promised to make up for it when she was over the flu.
"How?" Willow had pouted. I don't want to wait for kisses later, I want them now *and* later! Whatever kissage I miss tonight is gone for good- never to be recovered." She has said in a mock-forlorn voice.
Buffy just gave her a seductive smile, and said, "Who said kisses were the only thing I had in mind?"
Willow had shut up at that, her mind busy on just how Buffy might make up for missed kissage.
========== BtVS ==========
Buffy was making her way across the graveyard, trying to ignore the fatigue and lightheadedness she was feeling. She sensed something as she approached the Heckinsack's mausoleum. She jumped around the corner, swinging her stake at whatever was there.
Xander screamed and jumped back, holding on to his own stake tightly.
Cordelia let out a shriek from where she stood behind Xander. She and Willow instinctively held up their crosses at Buffy.
Buffy was slightly taken aback- looking at Xander she said, "Non-vampire." Her eyes swiveling to Cordy and Willow, she added, "Plus two."
Willow was annoyed with her girlfriend, and it showed in the confusion on her face- happiness to see her new love, combined with annoyance at the fact that Buffy was out of bed and in a graveyard when she was supposed to be resting from the flu! "Dang it, Buffy!" she said as she put her cross away.
Xander said, "Man, Buffy! My whole life just flashed before my eyes!" He glanced over at Willow and added, "I gotta get me a life!"
Buffy bewilderedly asked, "What are you doing here?"
Willow put her hands on her hips and countered, "What are *you* doing here?"
Buffy looked at her girlfriend blankly and said, "Well, I'm patrolling!" as if the answer were obvious.
Willow's eyes showed her concern as she walked over to her girlfriend and put her hands loosely on her hips, "Baby... you're sick! You're supposed to be in bed."
Buffy attempted to defend herself, not meeting Willow's eyes she looked over at the others and pouted, "No, I feel fine. I mean, I'm... the world's spinning a little bit, but I like it, it's kinda like a ride."
Cordelia, in her waspish way mixed concern with unthinking insult as she said, "Half the school's out with this flu. It's a serious deal." Putting her hands on her hips, she added sternly, "Buffy. We're all concerned about how gross you look."
Buffy's voice dripped with sarcasm as she answered, "I'm touched. Really. But I have work to do."
Willow pulled her into a halfway hug and said, "Buffy, come on, one night of rest is not gonna kill you."
Buffy pulled away slightly and said, "No, but it might kill somebody else."
Xander pointed at her with his stake and said, "You mean Angel might." As Buffy turned away from the group, he added, "Buffy, this is not the time to challenge Angel for the ultimate fighting championship." He Gestured with his stake, explaining, "He's at full strength... you're only half a Slayer."
Buffy turned and looked Xander in the eyes. "Yeah, but I'm still the Slayer. And, as long as I am, Angelus's not gonna kill anybody else."
Angelus popped up behind her and said, "Aw, c'mon. Just one more."
He attacked, as Willow and Cordelia screamed. He ran right past Buffy and straight for Cordelia tackling her to the ground.
Buffy grabbed him by the back of his coat and pulled him off of the whimpering Cheerleader. She turned him around, took him by the coat collar and swung at him with her stake- aiming for his foul heart.
He blocked her with his arm, grabbed hers and twisted, making her drop her stake. He taunted, "Not feeling well, lover?"
Buffy looked up at him and punched him in the jaw, not saying a word.
He glared back at her and tried to kick her, but she grabbed his foot and shoved his leg up, making him fall hard onto his back.
Buffy smirked and taunted back, "That helps."
Angelus scrambled to hands and feet while Buffy came at him from behind and tried to kick him. He countered, kicking up and out, driving his foot into her chest. She staggered back a bit until she could regain her balance. He got up and advanced toward her. She took a couple of swings at him, but he avoided them easily. He blocked a third attempt, grabbing her arm and gripping her by the throat.
"You know, you being off your game's kinda takin' the fun out of all this," he sneered, punching her in the face and causing her to stumble backwards again.
"Nope, still fun!" he goaded.
Angelus punched her in the gut, then grabbed her by the neck and shoved her around and into a corner column of the small mausoleum.
Buffy was dazed and tried to regain her balance, but didn't get a chance because he again punched her in the face, knocking her flat on her back. He leapt on top of her and pinned her arms down.
Angelus took another moment to mock the fallen slayer, "Uh-oh. This does *not* look good for our heroine!" he said as he bent down to bite her.
Willow took that opportunity to throw Xander's jacket over Angelus' head. She backed away and Xander grabbed Angelus' head under the jacket, punching him and kneeing him twice in the face.
Angelus fell over onto his back while Willow and Cordelia whipped out their crosses and held them out at him as he got up- forcing him to back off.
Xander quipped, "Take a walk, overbite," while Buffy got to her feet.
Angelus slowly backed away. "We'll have to do this again sometime," his taunt falling somewhat flat as he had clearly lost this round,
He turned and walked off. Buffy just watched him go.
Willow was instantly at her girlfriend's side, "Baby, are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
Buffy put her hand to her forehead and plaintively said, "I told you guys to leave, I..." She started to feel dizzy, whispering "I... Oh..." and fall to the ground unconscious.
Willow shouted, "Buffy!"
Xander and Cordelia turned to look, "Buffy?" Xander asked.
Willow helped Xander pick up the fallen slayer and they rushed to the hospital.
========== BtVS ==========