One Last Shot
by Whedonist
Chapter 11
[reviews]
Disc.: Joss's not mine.
Chapter 11
The last few days of Buffy's vacation were spent with Willow running around NYU and Columbia. The witch was trying to decide which school had the best choice of classes and who would give her the most flexibility. Giles had phoned and shipped out the rest of Willow's belongings. Giving further thought to the two's situation and relationship, Willow decided to take residence in the guest bedroom. Having her own space seemed like the best idea at the moment. Buffy had run to the store to pick up provisions for a girls night in and Willow was on the phone with Faith.
"So Red, how's operation remove stick from B's ass going?"
"Faith, she doesn't have a stick up her ass. She's just well...she's just all repressy. Like someone I know. Is it a slayer thing?"
"Hey, I'm not nearly as repressy as B can be. I know how to find the fun and have it occasionally, but you're right. Sorry. Do me a favor and don't tell her I said that."
"I'll keep my mouth shut. How is everything in Ohio?"
"Eh, not bad. I'm wigging out a little, but I think that's to be expected."
"The baby?"
"No...well a little. It's just that X is so happy like I think he was floating when I told him happy, but what are we gonna do? I still have to be a slayer and he's a watcher and then there's the council. It's just like I want to put the breaks on, but can't find the pedal."
"Ah, you're totally having a melt down. It's ok really. Xander will do good. He's gonna be a good dad and the slaying well, I know for a fact that you're not the first pregnant slayer. Call Wood, maybe he can give you some suggestions. Oh, you can always get the SIT's to baby sit and help out. Wouldn't that be a laugh and well no it would be scary, but still."
"I'm not melting down, but there's this whole I'm gonna be a mom thing, and my mom, in case you didn't get the memo, sucked at well pretty much everything. What if I suck?"
"Well the way Xander tells it you already do."
Faith's draw dropped on her end of the phone. "Willow is that you? Did you get possessed or something."
"Yes it's me. What I'm not allowed to make dirty jokes? I happen to know a few. Anyhow, back to the mom thing. Relax. Go stake something. You'll feel better."
"Ain't that the truth."
"Faith, uhm, I have a favor to ask. I'm not sure how well it's gong to go over. I mean I think you'll be ok with it, but I'm more worried about Xander."
"Spill Red."
"Uhm, I'm staying in New York more specifically I'm staying with Buffy."
"That's cool. How long you gonna stay?"
"Indefinitely. I've started the enrollment process at NYU and Columbia. Giles has sent me my stuff from England and I've moved in with Buff."
"That's cool. Why would X freak over that?"
"Well, I'm not one hundred percent sure yet, but I think I'm retiring from the council. Ya know try to live like a normal person for a while and see how that works."
"Oh, hey if it makes you happy than it's five by five ya know? Xander may be a little bit upset, but I think he'll be cool with it."
"There's more."
"More?"
"Yeah, look Faith I know that you and Xander have been together for a while, but before in Sunnydale he always had a thing for Buffy and I'm not sure how much that's gone away and I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings or bring up badness, but I thought I'd tell you and then you can break the news to him."
"You're killing me Willow, spit it out already."
"Uhm well you see Buffy and I are together."
"Yeah, you just said that. So?"
"No, I mean Buffy officially plays for the home team now. We are together in the naked, groiny way. I just don't want him to freak out."
"Oh and wow. You actually got her to come clean. Wait you actually told her? He's not going to believe this. It's about damn time."
"Wha?"
"Look Red, Buffy's had a thing for you for as long as I've known her. I asked her about it once and she decked me. I never brought it up again. I always thought you were doing the unrequited love bit. I'm happy to hear you lust bunnies are finally going at it."
"You knew?"
"Anyone with an ounce of common sense could tell. I just figured you both were so repressed that nothing would ever come of it. 'Sides it's not my place to tell you who to hump. Not my style."
"I...no one thought to tell either one of us?"
"Well, I thought about it, but decided against it. Didn't you notice how Buffy was extra protective with you and all touchy feely? How when I came to town she kept you away. It wasn't 'cuz I was keeping her from you, it was 'cuz she said and I quote, "Willow's too important to go patrolling with me. I need to keep her safe and with you here that means I get extra protection and company so she get's to stay at home where's there's locks and no vamps." Really, I just figured she'd never admit to it."
"Okay I'm lost. Does Xander know?"
"Know what?"
"Know about Buffy and I?"
"No you just told me he didn't know about the hook up."
Sighing Willow shifted the phone to her other ear. Her hand stroked her forehead as her patience began wan. "Faith focus with me. Did Xander know about how Buffy or I felt?"
"I think so. He's kinda pointed out some very clear facts, but if you're asking has he admitted it to himself, probably not. He likes to be dumb sometimes."
"You're killing me Faith. Ok. Just let him know please."
"Will do. Hey I've got to motor. Tell B I said don't fuck it up and good work Red."
"Bye Faith and give Xander a hug for me."
"K. Later."
Willow sighed and hung up the phone.
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What to watch? What to watch? Seen it. Didn't want to see it. Can't watch that again or I'll poke my self in the eye with a stake. What would Willow want to watch? You know you would think that Hollywood could come up with some better movies. All the good stuff has been made and we've seen them 10 plus times because of Xander. There are no good romantic comedies. Action, bleh. Horror. See the past nine years for my fill of horror. Drama, do enough of that on my own. Shit. I can do this pick two movies that we haven't seen that might set the mood for naked fun...I'm so not screwed. *sigh*
Buffy walked around the video store looking for any movie that Willow and her might enjoy for the night in. She went back to work tomorrow and the last two weeks, barring minor break downs on the blonde's part, had been wonderful.
Work. Wonder if I could take another week off? No, Jimmy would kill me. I can't make him sit at a desk for another week. Oh, well. Movies, back to movies. Oh, Jim Carey...Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Well it doesn't look that bad. Ok here's one. Oh, Finding Nemo. I wonder if Wills has seen it. Ok. That's two. Mission almost accomplished kind of. Not sure if a computer animated fish will set the mood for sex, but eh it's worth a shot.
Buffy checked the movies out and went to the market next door. Selecting a varied assortment of junk foods and diet cokes, she was nearly at the register when her phone started ringing.
"This is Buffy."
"Hey cupcake, I know it's not your official day back and all, but a call came in that was near you. Possible 10-29 with a DB or two and a request for a 10-47. I'm in the area and wanted to know if you want in on it?"
"I..." Buffy glanced down at her watch. Going over a time schedule in her head, she sighed. "Yeah. I'm at Gio's on 32nd. You want to come pick me up?"
"Will do. See you in five."
Jimmy disconnected and Buffy grumbled.
Stupid damn mouth. Should have said no. Although it shouldn't take me that long. About two hours tops and then I can get back to Willow time. Shit. I'm gonna have to call and tell her. Damn. Double damn. Punching in her number she waited on Willow to pick up.
"Summers' residence."
"Wills it's me."
"Hey you. What's up?"
"Uhm, don't hate me, but Jimmy called and there's a scene close by. A 10-29 with a 10-47 en route so uhm I'm gonna go take a look at see what's the what. I should be home in about two hours." Buffy's faced scrunched up waiting on an outburst. When one didn't come, she said, "Wills you still there?"
"Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out what the frilly heck a 10-29 and 10-47 are. Can you clue me in?"
"Oh, sorry. 10-29 is an unspecified crime mostly used to report a dead body and a 10-47 is a request for a coroner."
"Oh see that helps. Don't you go back tomorrow?"
"Yeah, but Jimmy called and he sounded desperate. So he's coming to pick me up. I should be home in about two hours, if that's ok."
"Buff, since when do you need my permission to stop evil stuff. Go fight crime. I'll hold down the fort and come up with something interesting to do. Ok."
"You're the best. I did get the movies and I've got the food. So wait up and when I get home I promise fun times."
"I'm holding you to that slayer. Be careful."
"I'll try. Bye Wills."
Buffy disconnected and slid the phone in her pocket. Thankful that she always carried her badge with her, took it out of her pocket and clipped it on to her pants. It took Jimmy all of the length of the phone call to Willow to show up looking annoyed and impatient.
"You ready?"
"I am. Let's go."
True to his words, the scene was just four blocks up from where the grocery store was. The Techs had closed the area off and the coroner hadn't showed up yet. Ducking under the yellow tape, Buffy put her gloves on and took a look around.
Surprised anyone called in anything down here. As a side note, even if you traipse around sewers for most of your adolescence and young adult life, nothing and I mean nothing will prepare you for the smell of a rotting corpse. In the sun when it's 95+ degrees outside, it's got to be one of the worst smells ever.
Secluded. Can't tell if anyone put up a fight. Hello, alley. Why is that? Why are all of the DB's that we come to in Manhattan in alleys? Is it convenience? Is it the only place people get killed around here? Sometimes you have to think. Alley's are dangerous why do people still walk around them at night? If I weren't a girl that was gifted with the strength and speed of a demon, I would stay away from alley's; just a thought though. I could be wacky.
"Summers, over here."
"Oh, sorry." Buffy had gone straight to the back instead of following Jimmy.
He was currently hunched over the corpse of what looked like a young female. Sighing, she walked closer and hunched down across from her partner. She didn't immediately look at the face.
Over the past year she had developed a way of looking at a corpse that started with the feet and worked her way up. Noting abrasions on her ankles and calves she worked upwards and patted the girl down for any type of identification. She pressed against the right hip pocket and felt a few pieces of plastic. Fishing it out, she sorted through and saw the California State heading. She looked at the picture then the name and looked back at the face of the dead girl. It wasn't surprising that she was from out of state, but still the name seemed familiar. She finally studied the face of the body. The girl on her license was young born 1987, 19 years old. Looking closer at her neck she noticed the abrasions. Wanting to confirm her suspicions, she pulled down the girls lower eye lid and saw the tell tale signs of petechiae. Not found in all cases of strangulation, but regular enough to warrant looking for.
The girls face was bloated and her tongue was swollen. Gathering the rest of the information from the body as she could before turning it over to the ME, she peeled off her gloves and deposited them in the trash. Jimmy had already combed the area and reported no other findings.
"So you want to canvas right now or wait till tomorrow?"
Checking her watch, she said, "Tonight will be best. Just the closest residences. Also who called it in?"
"A newbie by the name Kindal, first name Scott. He was walking the area and smelt it. Did a decent job of securing the scene though."
"K, you take Scott and I'll start knockin on doors."
"Not much of that blonde. The neighbors are right there." Jimmy pointed to a group of on looker's right past the yellow tape. She squared her shoulders and made her way over.
She flashed her badge and smiled at the group. Going through the list of people one by one, she asked the same questions and all of them came up with nothing. As she finished up with the last interview, Jimmy tapped her on the shoulder.
"You done cupcake?"
"Yeah, you got anything?"
"Nada. No purse, no other clues to see why she would be down here. So I'll buy coffee tomorrow if can answer this question."
"Deal."
"Scene of crime?"
"Not here old man. Definitely just a dump site."
"Ding, ding, ding. Coffee's on me tomorrow. So you want to go home?"
"You bet. You gonna go back to the office and see if we can pull anything on the vic?"
"Nah, I'll wait for tomorrow."
They exited the alley and made their way back to the car.
"So how's your girl?"
"Good, she ah moved in. Enrolling in school."
"That fast." Whistling he wiggled his eyebrows up and down at the blonde. "You lez's move quick. My ex-wife took two years to move her junk in and another three to move it out."
"She's staying in the guest bedroom, which is her room now. Keep your mind out of the gutter McAllister or I hurt you."
"Yes mama. Hey for what it's worth. Glad you're not alone. Always bugged me. You shouldn't be. I know we don't talk about you and your old shit, but I'm a cop these things you pick up on. Just treat her right kid."
"I'm trying, trust me. It's just weird."
"Weird that she's a chick or weird that you're involved?"
"Both or maybe just involved. You get used to being alone."
"Ain't that the truth." Jimmy pulled up to Buffy's apartment and idled. "See you tomorrow, shortie."
"Hey, we were just gonna eat a light dinner and watch movies. You want to join?"
"Nah, go be with the red head. She's seems like a firecracker. Don't let me screw up the rest of the night."
"Alright Jimmy. See you bright and early tomorrow. Oh, I want a Mocha, non-fat, no whip, extra shot of espresso."
"I'm supposed to remember that?"
"I have faith."
With that Buffy shut the car door and carried her bags to the door.