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buffyfic Digest      Wednesday, October 22 1997      Volume 01 : Number 042



In this issue:

    BUFFYFIC: PARODY LYRIC:  Unnatural Demon
    BUFFYFIC: ADMIN:  List rules
    BUFFYFIC: 5 New "Little Buffy" Movies!
    BUFFYFIC: 1 More "Little Buffy" Movie Description
    BUFFYFIC: Kudos on the movies.  I'm LOL
    BUFFYFIC: A Walk Along The Beach 1/4
    BUFFYFIC: A Walk Along The Beach 2/4

See the end of the digest for information on subscribing to the buffyfic
or buffyfic-digest mailing lists and on how to retrieve back issues.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 17:23:10 -0400
From: Jesse Jou <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: PARODY LYRIC:  Unnatural Demon

I've reconceived one of the final scenes of Prophecy Girl.  It's almost
like a music video now.
The song is sung to the tune of Carole King's "Natural Woman,"  which is
most often played very freely rhythmically to allow vocal embellishment,
hence the imperfect scansion.

JJ

Master:  "You?  You're dead!"

Buffy:  "I may be dead, but at least I'm pretty."

Master:  "You were to have died; it was written!"

Buffy:  "What can I say?  I flunked the written."

(music starts, as they begin to fight)

Looking for
A little evening's pain,
I used to be much inspired.

And when I knew,
I'd never see the light of day
'Cuz it'd make me feel on fire.

Before the day I bit you.
Unlife was no surprise,
But your blood was the key to my recent rise.

Cuz you set me free,
You set me free
You set me free
I'm
Unnatural
Demon.

Ohh, Buffy, what you do to me.
(what you do to me)
You let me out of a sunken vault
(a sunken vault)
And I'm just taunting thee
(taunting thee)
Hey, what's with that Xena-like somersault?

Chorus
(improvising as the music fades out)
Unnatural Demon

You set me free.

You know, you set me free!

Cuz you set me free; I'm Unnatural Demon.

Unnatural Demon.
(music ends)

Buffy:  "You're that amped about Hell?  Why don't you go there?"

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 20 Oct 1997 11:53:16 -0500
From: sah <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: ADMIN:  List rules

Welcome!  This list is for fiction related to "Buffy The Vampire
Slayer," both the TV series and the movie.  To ensure that we all get
to enjoy as much fiction as possible, please adhere to the following
guidelines, and please save them for future reference.

1. Fiction should have Buffy characters in it and clearly be related
to Buffy.  Crossovers are great, and expected, but general
vampire/monster stories that aren't in the Buffy universe and don't
use Buffy characters belong somewhere else.

2. Discussion of posted fiction is permitted onlist.  Please put
"DISCUSS" in your subject line.  Requests for missing story parts
should go directly to the author, and not be posted to the list.

Discussion that is not related directly to the fiction should go over
to the general Buffy list.  Discussion of fiction is expected to
follow common netiquette guidelines and use PG-13 language.

3. No advertising of <any> items or services, Buffy related or not,
and no posting of non-story items such as .gifs, sound files, etc..
No attached files of <any> kind-- if your mailer makes your fiction
into attached files, you need to find another way to get it to the list.

4. If you're writing a story and including advance information on a
new episode, and you're posting your story earlier than the national
viewing time, please:

     **Mark the post as a "spoiler" in the subject header.
     **Leave about twelve lines (blank or with non-spoiler info) at
          the top of the post.

This ensures that anyone who doesn't like knowing about an episode
ahead of time is "protected."  :)   The blank space is for people whose
mailers automatically open up the next piece of mail, without giving
them a chance to see "spoiler" in the header.

Spoiler warnings are not necessary after the start of the episode's
national viewing time, which is currently set at 9 p.m. Mondays,
Eastern Standard Time.  Spoiler warnings are not necessary for reruns.

5.  This list is absolutely NOT for erotic fiction.  <Nothing> stronger
than sexually PG-13 material is to be posted to the list under any
circumstances.  A story may be R rated for violence or language,
however.

If you have a question about something's suitability for posting, feel
free to ask one of the listowners.  Sending sexually explicit material
will get you immediately and permanently unsubscribed.  No exceptions.

6.  By subscribing and/or posting to this list, you acknowledge that
Buffy the Vampire slayer and all characters associated with either
the televised series or the motion picture were created by Josh Whedon
and are owned by Mutant Enemy productions, Kuzui Productions,
Sandollar Productions, and 20th Century Fox.  All stories posted to
this list are for entertainment purposes only, are not sold for profit
of any kind, and are not intended to infringe on any copyrights.

7.  When posting stories to the list, please follow the following
formatting guidelines
- --No story parts longer than 250 lines
- --No lines longer than 75 characters
- --Turn off your "smart quotes"-- many readers receive these as garbage
or weird symbols
- --Put the title of the story in the subject header, indicate if it's a
multipart story, and if so what part this is.  Example:   Buffy Meets
Godzilla (2/65) indicates that this post is part two of a 65 part story.

8. If a story is rated "R" for language/violence, indicate this in an
introduction.  For example, "There's a really bloody fight scene at
the end of this part" or "if you don't like dismemberment, stop
reading now!"  If there's <any> chance that someone might be disturbed
by something in your story (even if it's not rated R) please include
some kind of warning up front.

9.  And last, but not least, the listowners reserve the right to deny
subscription (new, renewed, or continued) to the list for any
individual(s).

PLEASE NOTE:  not following any or all of these rules will get you
the following:

**First offense:  offender is unsubscribed for one week.
**Second offense:  offender is unsubscribed to the Buffyfic list for a
minimum of three months.
**If the offender returns and does it again, they're offlist
permanently.

As noted above, posting sexually explicit material is the exception --
you go straight to permanent unsubbing.

Again, welcome!  If  you have any questions about these rules, please
contact either one of us offlist.  If you have subscription problems or
questions, the fastest way to get help is to e-mail one of us at the
addresses below, <not> at the [e-mail] addy which is the
"official" e-mail owner of the list.

Jill Kirby ([e-mail])
 &
Sharon Himmanen ([e-mail])
Listowners, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Fiction List
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 20 Oct 1997 13:38:57 -0700
From: Lisa Rose <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: 5 New "Little Buffy" Movies!

Five new "Little Buffy" Movie descriptions have just been added
to the "movie" section under "Little Buffy's Recreation" at the
Little Buffy Site: http://www.wco.com/~cybrpaws/lilbuffy.html

- -------------------

 6.  BUFFY AND THE BEAST - A wild and happy-go-lucky vampire is
     cursed by bitter gypsies with the return of his guilt-ridden human
     soul. Now he spends all his days brooding in a lonely apartment.
     Only the freely given love of a beautiful young woman (the town's
     slayer) can lift the curse and return him to his former crazy and
     carefree ways. At which point she'll have to kill him....

 7.  FROM HERE TO FRATERNITY - Young Alex Harris (Frank Sinatra), a
     poor kid from the wrong end of town, is dying to belong to the local
     college's elite fraternity, Kamma Feeda Kobra. Nothing would
     impress his critical father more. After an exotic and seductive drag
     routine for the frat brothers during pledge week, he finally gets his
     coveted invitation. His first pledge task, however, is to feed the
     fraternity's friendly reptilian mascot ('Mackie') it's "special diet" down
     in its basement home. Soon, Alex is conflicted. Sure, the free beer
     and sorority girls are great, but are they really worth his mortal soul?
     It's a tough call! Maybe some peer counseling is in order here?

 8.  101 HYENAS - Sunnydale High's militant Vegetarian Club (just over
     a hundred strong) decides to protest at the City Zoo because live
     racehorses (just past their prime) are being fed to the zoo's
     mysterious new hyenas. An unfortunate scuffle between
     demonstrators and zoo security guards at the edge of the hyena pit,
     however, triggers a tragic transpossession from the hyenas to the
     club members. In a cruel twist of irony, these former animal lovers
     and meat-refusers are now reduced to gorging themselves on stolen
     hotdogs, terrifed school mascots, and ultimately, their own stunned
     school principal (whose bitter aftertaste no amount of carrot juice
     will ever wash away!).

 9.  VAMPIRE RECORDS - The teen salesclerk behind the cash register
     sports a deathly pallor and crimson lips. Just another goth-kid
     working for minimum wage? Guess again! The bloodsuckers who
     operate this CD outlet are out to drain their customers of more than
     just their hard-earned entertainment dollars! Why hasn't the fact that
     the joint has no windows to the outside nor security mirrors tipped
     anyone off yet? Sure, they have great selection and are open till
     midnight. But God help any shoppers left in the store at closing time!

10.  SIXTEEN BLOWTORCHES - Samantha (Molly Ringwald) is a young
     slayer whose duty has destroyed her social life to the point that she is
     spending her sixteenth birthday all by herself. As she prepares to
     blow out the candles on her cake, her cute brooding vampire friend,
     Jakelus (Michael Schoeffling), bursts in to warn her that sixteen
     vicious vampires are coming to "crash" her little party. Rest assured,
     they'll want to consume a bit more than cake! As the vamps smash
     through her picture window, Samantha thinks quickly and whips out
     a can of hairspray from her purse, spraying it over the burning
     candles to create a searing blastfurnace of birthday incineration. And
     Voila! Sixteen crispy vamp-kabobs for party latecomers Xander
     "The Geek" Harris (Anthony Michael Hall) and little sister Sara
     (Alyson Hannigan) to enjoy! At least the day wasn't a *total* disaster.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 20 Oct 1997 22:25:28 -0700
From: Lisa Rose <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: 1 More "Little Buffy" Movie Description

11.  DESPERATELY SEEKING DARLA - Angelus the Vampire has been
     released from that pesky gypsy curse that restored his human
     soul by the liberating love of a beautiful young slayer whom he
     suckered into falling for him.  Now with the curse and the slayer
     out of the way, he frantically searches for his old partner in
     crime, his former supernatural squeeze, Darla, the "Belle of
     Budapest."  His excitement grows as he races to the underground,
     eager to re-consummate their relationship, already hearing her
     deadly dulcet tones again in his mind.  Then he halts in horror,
     remembering to his dismay that he *killed* her.  Doh!


(title suggested by Jim)
- ----------------------

Lisa
http://www.wco.com/~cybrpaws/lilbuffy.html

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Oct 1997 16:52:10 -0400
From: Jesse Jou <[e-mail]>
Subject: BUFFYFIC: Kudos on the movies.  I'm LOL

Lisa-

I don't know if I've told you how much I loved the movie descriptions yet,
but I do.  You truly have a gift for Buffy promotion.  You should be
pitching these to some heartless Hollywood exec, eh?

I did inspire me to think of these, though:

Maiming Amy
Kevin Smith directs in this last of his "Sunnydale Trilogy" movies.  Holden
(Nicholas Brendon) thinks he's found the perfect girl in Alyssa (Sarah
Michelle Gellar), but finds that her sordid past as a Vampire Slayer
bothers him a little more than his liberal Generation X mindset will let
him admit.  Also in the picture is Holden's best friend, Banky (Alyson
Hannigan), a bitter 20 something who's jealous of Alyssa's hold on Holden
and whose caustic asides and uncovering of Alyssa's vampire slaying past
drives a wedge between the young lovers.  Director Smith also makes a cameo
as Loquacious Jackson, the character he created in the first two movies of
the trilogy, and who delivers some poignance in telling the story behind
the movie's title of "maiming Amy."

The Color Scarlet
Director:  Steven Spielberg, Adapted from the novel by Alice Walker.  Buffy
(Whoopi Goldberg) is a disadvantaged Slayer living in 1920's Sunnydale.
Married to an abusive vampire (David Boreanaz), Buffy befriends her
husband's mistress, Shug (Julie Benz), searching for the comfort long
missing from her marriage.  Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Oprah
Winfrey, and Sarah Michelle Gellar (as young Buffy) round out the all-star
cast.  Join Buffy on her voyage to self-discovery as Spielberg deftly
crafts a movie of exquisite beauty from the eloquent words of Alice Walker.

(movie clip:  Ext.  a car pulls away from the front of a house as Buffy
yells from the backseat, "I may be a woman!  I may be a Slayer!  But I'm
here!"  Her husband looks on, baffled.)

Disney's Buffy the Vampire Slayer
In its 65th animated feature, Walt Disney Studios takes on the legend of
Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  Disney animators have worked round-the-clock for
over 2 years to create the memorable characters in Disney's Buffy.  "We
knew right away,"  says director Gary Wise, "that we had to use the
original novelization by Richie Tankerley Cusick as a basis for this movie,
but otherwise, we had carte blanche in making it a story that we'd all want
to see."  Characters who have scored high with test audiences are the
reconceived Buffy (voiced by Melissa Joan Hart, sung by Deborah Gibson), as
a medieval princess who gives up her slayer powers to win the love of
handsome Prince Xander (voiced and sung by Jonathan Taylor Thomas), and her
vampire bat sidekick, Angelus (voiced by Nathan Lane).  Production has been
plagued by fans of Buffy, the television series, who have criticized Disney
for creating a product that bears no resemblance to its original source
material.

Birchwood
Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) is a struggling fashion design student
in Chicago, whose modest and mousy designs make her the scorn of the jetset
until her indomitable spirit gets her noticed by a possessive photographer
(Anthony Perkins, in his final performance) who renames her "Birchwood."
Willow, now Birchwood, soars to the heights of the fashion world, becoming
one of the most powerful supermodels in the world.  However, fame and
glamour take their toll, and Birchwood soon notices that a number of her
supermodel friends are developing terminal cancers.  Can it be the effects
of radiation given off by the local Hellmouth?  Birchwood becomes a
passionate spokesmodel for Hellmouth safety, stepping on the toes of the
rich and powerful, until her mysterious death in an automobile accident.
Was she murdered?  That's what Xander Harris (Billy Dee Williams), a
nuclear plant employee and aspiring Chicago politico, wants to find out.
Featuring the Oscar-nominated song, "Theme from Birchwood (Do You Know What
You're Hacking Through?)"

okay.  I'll stop now.

JJ
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Oct 1997 15:28:28 -0700
From: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: A Walk Along The Beach 1/4

Title: A Walk Along The Beach
Author: NuPhalanx
E-Mail Address: [e-mail]
Distribution: Anya, of course. Others, please ask.
Spoiler Warning: Invisible Girl
Rating: PG13
Summary: Buffy and her mom have a road trip planned.
Characters: Buffy/Joyce/Giles/Other

Disclaimer: This story is based on the series created by Joss Whedon. No
infringement of any copyright stuff is intended. Rating: PG/PG13 Thank
you all who sent me feedback, and a special thank you to Melinda,
whose comments resulted in this version.


A walk along the beach
ver3                                      (part one)

Sunnydale Ca.     August 2, 1997

     The sun was just slightly over the hills when her alarm went
off. Buffy groaned and slapped the silence button. As she pulled the
comforter over her head, she heard her mother call from below.

"Buffy! I heard that alarm go off. IÆve got breakfast ready. WeÆve a lot
of driving to do so letÆs get a move on!"

Buffy flung the comforter aside and sat up, stretching and yawning. Her
mother had been planning this trip for three weeks. It would be just her
and Mom cruising up the Pacific Coast Highway and having lunch near
Carmel. Buffy had to admit that she was happy to be doing something with
her mom. But getting up at sunrise was never any fun.

    As she hurriedly pulled on some jeans and a top, she made sure
that she had several stakes and a few other weapons in her bookbag. A
Slayer could never be too careful, after all. WouldnÆt Giles be proud of
me, she thought.

    Her mother had an omelet ready for her. Yawning, Buffy sat down
and started eating.

    "ItÆs going to be a gorgeous day,"  Mrs. Summers said, watching
CNNÆs forecast. Buffy found it hard to call any day gorgeous at this
hour.

    "It will be for some of us," Buffy replied. Mrs. Summers frowned
and turned to look at her daughter.

 "I know you kids like to hang out with each other on the weekends, but I
would like to have at least one day for just the two of us." Her mom left
the kitchen to get her things for the trip. When she returned to the
kitchen, Buffy had finished her breakfast and was putting the dishes in
the dishwasher. She looked up at her mom.

 "Sorry, mom. I know how hard it is for you to get away from the Gallery.
IÆm just a little tired."

"You can catch a nap in the car if you want. Are you ready to go?"

    The Slayer smiled. "IÆll get my bag." Buffy met her mother at the
back door and watched as her mom locked it. She settled back into the
seat as her mother backed out and headed for the highway. Grabbing a
jacket from the back seat, she used it for a pillow as she tried to take
a nap.

Pacific Coast Highway     25 miles north of Sunnyvale

    Joyce Summers glanced over at her daughter and smiled. ÆNever get
a teenager up before noon on a Saturday,Æ she thought. Buffy had been
asleep since they had turned onto the highway. æAnd just yesterday you
were all of twelve years old, a little shy, and nervous about going to a
new school. Of course, your father and I having that argument the night
before hadnÆt helped things very much, either. I know youÆre not happy
with just the monthly visits with your father,Æ Mrs. Summers thought,
Æbut it has worked out for the three of us. I just hope you understand
that both of us still love you very much.Æ
    Looking at the signs near the side of the road, she saw that it
would be about another two hours until they reached Carmel. æShe should
be a little less tired in an hour or so,Æ Mrs. Summers thought.
She looked at Buffy again. She smiled and thought: æTeenagers.Æ

Carmel

    The two of them were  picking out sunglasses from a rack in a
convenience store when Buffy noticed the woman for the first time. She
was about five feet five inches tall, with bright red hair done in a
layered shag. The woman was wearing a khaki jumpsuit and carrying a black
bookbag. But what she really noticed was her eyes - ice blue. Their eyes
locked for a few seconds, and Buffy noticed that those eyes were
expressionless - no sense of anything that might be behind them. Her face
held an expression Buffy couldnÆt comprehend - expectancy, maybe, and
something else.

The woman glanced at something across the store, then brushed past Buffy
and walked out of the store. BuffyÆs spine started tingling as the woman
moved past her, and Buffy almost found herself drawing a stake from the
sheathe on her left arm - except it wasnÆt there, of course. The feeling
lessened after a few minutes, but Buffy still shuddered at the intensity
- - just like when she was getting close to something during the hunt.

"Creepy," Buffy muttered to herself.

    "Did you say something, honey?" her mother asked.

Buffy shook her head. "No, I was just talking to myself." Buffy had a
strange feeling about that woman - the same feeling she had when Angel
would be watching her. She shook her head again. Relax, she told herself.
YouÆre getting a little too sensitive. Her mother was saying something to
her.

"What? Sorry, I was thinking about something."

    "I can see that. Is it that boy, Angel?"

    Buffy looked away for a minute, then replied "Something like
that. I just saw someone who reminded me of someone." How lame can you
get, moron!?

    "ItÆs okay if you donÆt want to talk about him. Just remember,
you can always talk to me about anything, OK?" Buffys mom made sure she
had her daughters attention. "And at any time," she added.

    Buffy smiled at that. æNot quite anything,Æ she thought to
herself. æWhat would you think if you knew what my life is really like?Æ

"Are you ready to go? I know IÆm hungry, and since you only ate about
half of that omelet, I bet you are, too."

    Leaving the sunglasses behind, they walked out of the store and
got into the car. Pulling out of the parking lot, they turned onto the
street and headed for the beach, which was only a few blocks away.

On a beach, near Carmel

    Her mother had packed a cooler with the usual picnic goodies -
sandwiches, chips, some fresh fruit. They had found an isolated spot on a
small rocky outcropping overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Buffy had spread a
large blanket for them to sit on, and they ate in silence as they watched
the waves batter the rocks. Mrs. Summers noticed that Buffy once again
had that far away look in her eyes.

"Still thinking about that boy?," she inquired, inwardly smiling at Buffy
as she lowered her eyes before looking at her mom. Buffy started to say
something, stopped, then tried again.

"Mom, did I have anything to do with you and Dad breaking up? I mean, I
know I did some weird things at my old school, but I never  have been
sure that I didnÆt have something to do with it."

The suddenness of the question startled Joyce. She started to speak,
hesitated, then continued.

"Oh, honey," Mrs. Summers replied, drawing Buffy close. "I thought we had
worked that out before we came to Sunnydale." She took BuffyÆs face in
her hands and looked into her daughters eyes. Haunted, distressed eyes.
"How long has this been bothering you?"

    Buffy sniffed slightly, then continued to talk. "I just had some
bad dreams about it, I guess. Is my insecurity showing?," she said,
wiping her eyes as she looked out over the ocean.

    Her mother smiled. "Just a little. Buffy, your father and I just
grew apart. I know it hasnÆt been easy on you, but we decided that it
would we better if we had a divorce. We both love you, and I wish you had
said something about this sooner." She looked out across the ocean,
hoping for some comforting words to come to mind. Since nothing came up,
she shrugged inwardly and decided to fake it. æHere goes,Æ she thought.

    "We both want whatÆs best for you. If you want to change
anything, please tell me. I would understand if you wanted to go back to
your fatherÆs early. IÆd really like to spend a few weeks with you, but
you can do whatever will make you happy."

Buffy ventured a small smile. "We would probably drive each other nuts. I
just had to hear it from you again, about what happened between you and
dad. I just couldnÆt bear the thought of being responsible for any
trouble between the two of you." æI have caused enough trouble for what
few friends I have,Æ she thought. æI hope I can make it up to them
someday.Æ

"Buffy, you are the most joyous thing in my life. Life has a way of going
on, even through the bad times. Never, never think you were responsible
for what happened between myself and your dad." Mrs. Summers stood up and
looked down the beach. "Now, are you up to a walk?"

Buffy smiled and stood up. "Lead on," she said. As they walked down the
beach, mother and daughter held each other around the waist, laughing as
they shared a joke.

Further up the beach, unnoticed by either of them, a red-haired figure
watched Buffy and her mother as they stopped to examine some seashells.
She appeared to be studying Buffy intently. After watching for another
minute, she sat down on a nearby bench and pulled a notebook computer
from her backpack. Opening the screen and turning the power on, she
started typing. The screen had the following characters on it:

"Journal Entry - 2Aug97 - I believe I have found the Slayer"


        End Part One.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 21 Oct 1997 15:35:39 -0700
From: [e-mail]
Subject: BUFFYFIC: A Walk Along The Beach 2/4

Title: A Walk Along The Beach
Author: NuPhalanx
E-Mail Address: [e-mail]
Distribution: Anya, of course. Others please ask.
Spoiler Warning: Invisible Girl
Rating: PG13
Content Warning: Assault
Summary: Buffy and her mom plan a road trip. However, trouble seems to
find the Slayer everywhere.
Characters: Buffy/Joyce/Giles

Disclaimer : This story is based on the series created by Joss Whedon. No
infringement is intended.
Authors Notes: WouldnÆt it be nice to see Buffy and her mom just having a
little mother-daughter fun for once? Of course, trouble seems to follow
the Slayer everywhere. This story is rated PG13 for violence and related
subject matter. Special thanks to Titania, LadyRHood, Meawan, and Melinda
for their comments and suggestions.

A walk along the beach
ver3                                      (part two)

Carmel     August 2, 1997

Buffy Summers kicked her shoes off and waded into the Pacific Ocean. The
water was cool and quite pleasant. Turning around, she called back to her
mother "Come on, mom! Live a little and get your feet wet." A wave roared
in, soaking her jeans to the knees. Turning again, she caught the next
wave full in the face. Sputtering, she wiped the water out of her eyes
and turned to look for her mother. She smiled as her mom came wading out
to join her.

"This water is just a little cold today!" Mrs. Summers replied, as yet
another wave drenched them both. Buffy grabbed her mothers hand and
yelped for joy as the next wave came at them. Deciding she had had
enough, her mother led them both back onto the sand. She said to her
daughter, in mock seriousness, " I thought we were just going to stay on
the beach, young lady". Buffy giggled as her mother started to drip water
on her new shoes.

"Mom, thanks for setting this up. I mean, I canÆt remember the last time
you and I just did something for fun." Looking down at her feet, she
continued, almost shyly. " IÆm really having a good time."

"My, my, I always thought teenagers could *never* have a good time with
their parents. ItÆs not cool, or whatever word you kids use these days,"
Joyce Summers said, brushing BuffyÆs hair back into place with her hands.


"Yea, I guess it is a major social no-no to do things with your parents.
Sometimes. But not this time," Buffy said, smiling at her mom. The two of
them sat down and just looked out over the ocean, watching the boats just
offshore, the people sunbathing, swimming, and the other things one does
on a beach. It was a beautiful August day, with just a slight breeze
blowing off the ocean. For about the tenth time since they had arrived,
Buffy wished that somehow Angel could be here with her.

æWould he want to go wading,Æ she wondered? æMore likely he was one to
cuddle up with her next to a fire, or get away from the lights and just
look up at the stars.Æ Would she ever get to find out? She had not been
able to reach him for nearly ten days now, and was starting to get
majorly wigged about it.

She resolved to get his address out of Giles when she got back, one way
or the other.

æIf Giles will talk to me,Æ she thought glumly, remembering their last
conversation.

Buffy had again brought up the subject of informing her mother the truth
about her daughter. Giles had been against it, reminding her that her
mother was better off not knowing. æIt would just make her a target and
life all the more harder on you,Æ he had told her. She remembered the
angry reply she had thrown at him:

"As if it couldnÆt get any harder than it already is!" She had stalked
out of his house, slamming the door behind her.

That had been Friday night, when she had been feeling more than a little
anxious about todayÆs trip. Now she felt just a little bit of guilt at
having walked out on Giles. After all, he had always tried to keep her
best interests in mind. Like he always has, and probably always would,
until one of them was no longer around.

Checking her watch, Joyce stood and brushed some sand off her jeans.
"Honey, IÆve got that meeting at the local Historical Society. I should
be back in two hours. Can you meet me here?"
Buffy glanced up at her mom. "Sure. I wonÆt go very far from here."

Her mom looked at her for a second, then said "Okay. I know I can trust
you to stay out of trouble." Buffy grinned inwardly at that comment.

æIf you only had a clue,Æ Buffy thought. Better not go there. She helped
her mom clean up the remnants of their picnic, then started off down the
beach. She turned to wave at her mom and watched her drive off to another
meeting. Then Buffy started walking, noticing an old lighthouse about a
half-mile down the beach. Deciding to check it out, she changed her
direction slightly.  Then she started thinking about her mother, the
Gallery, and the trip they were on.

 Always some meeting, or a late night, or paperwork, OR SOMETHING!! she
thought, trudging onward. Of course, some of her mothers activities did
make it easier for Buffy to be the Slayer, but lately she had really
wanted to spend more time with her mom.

Looking up, she noticed she had walked further down the beach than she
had intended. She had walked past the old lighthouse, and was in a small
cove that was surrounded by cliffs on the landward side. She noticed a
small wooded area near the top of a small rise and decided to get a look
at the ocean from up there. Checking her watch, she saw that she still
had about an hour and a quarter to kill.

Reaching the top of the rise, she sat down at the base of a tree and
looked out over the ocean. It was nice to be in a shady spot, as the
temperature had climbed just a little. She had just started thinking
about Angel again when a shiver went up her spine. She stiffened, and
stood up slowly, but couldnÆt see anything near-

Two white-hot needles touched her back, and then it felt like her whole
body was on fire. She was vaguely aware of falling, and then the
blackness closed in.

                                                      ***

The sand was wet against her face. She hurt everywhere. æWhat was going
on?Æ she wondered. æWhy am I lying in the sand?Æ A man was talking to
her.

"Miss, can you hear me? IÆm an EMT. WeÆre going to take you to the
hospital now." She was dizzy, her tongue felt like cotton, and her eyes
wouldnÆt focus.

"Wha-" she murmured, trying to sit up. A firm hand held her down. "Just
lay back and relax, okay?"

The dizziness got worse, and she let her head fall backwards. She could
feel herself being lifted by someone, then she faded out again.

When she opened her eyes again, she could see some bright lights overhead
as she was being wheeled into the hospital. Her mother was at her side,
with a worried look on her face. Voices came and went.

" àpossible OD, run a chem seven statà"

"àfound her on the beach, no apparent injuriesà"

"àany ID on her?à"

"àher motherÆs here. Keep her out there until we get this kid stableà"

Darkness overcame her again.

Regional Hospital

Joyce sat in the Emergency Room, anxiously waiting for someone to tell
her what happened to Buffy. She waited a few more minutes, then got up
and walked down to the nurses station.

 She had the duty nurse page the doctor that had worked on Buffy. He
appeared after a few minutes, carrying some paperwork with him.

"Mrs. Summers, I just got the lab results back on your daughter." He took
Joyce by the arm and led her to a small conference room. Joyce didnÆt
like the look in his eyes. Alarmed, she asked "Is she going to be
alright?"

Dr. Cardillo nodded. "WeÆd like to keep her overnight for observation."
He paused for a moment, looking uncertain as how to continue. "Mrs.
Summers, I think your daughter was very lucky today. We found traces of
Rohypnol in her blood. That would explain her disorientation."

He flipped through several pages of the chart, then looked up at Joyce
again. "There are no signs of any physical trauma or assault. Just a
small burn on her back, and what appears to be a needle mark on her left
arm." He paused again before going on, obviously trying to think of the
correct words.

"Mrs. Summers, has your daughter ever used drugs?"

"Absolutely not! SheÆs a good kid, and I trust her." Mrs. Summers didnÆt
like where this line of questioning was going. Dr. Cardillo noticed the
look on her face and changed his approach.

"IÆm sorry to have to ask you that, but I need to know so we can help
your daughter. The Rohypnol level in her system isnÆt very high, but it
is a cause for concern."

Joyce was aghast. "ThatÆs the stuff the press calls the ædate-rapeÆ drug,
isnÆt it?"

Dr. Cardillo nodded. "Someone apparently tried to hit her with some. She
should be okay in another day or so. IÆve prescribed some medication for
her to help ease the side affects. She should follow up with your family
doctor in a few days." He stood, and then continued. "A Detective will
want to speak with her, but I doubt sheÆll remember anything. ThatÆs why
this stuff is so hideous. He turned to leave, then added: "If you need to
talk to anyone, just have any nurse page me."

Joyce thanked the doctor, then sat there while her mind raced. æSomeone
drugged my daughter. WHY WHY WHY!? DidnÆt I tell her to be careful? I
should not have let her walk around up here on her own. Damn that
Gallery! All I wanted was some time with Buffy.Æ She stood up and walked
down to BuffyÆs room on shaky legs. She looked at her daughter, resting
peacefully in her bed.

æWhat happened? Did you try to prove how adult you were? I thought I
could trust you. I thought I had taught you to NEVER get into a situation
where this could happen.Æ Joyce Summers watched her daughter sleep and
was thankful for the lifeguard that had found her near the shore.

She had been almost frantic when she had returned from her meeting to
find that Buffy wasnÆt back yet. After waiting for an extra hour, she had
asked some of the lifeguards for help. The lifeguards had quickly
organized a search and found Buffy about thirty minutes later.

The EMTs had found no signs of a fight or struggle, but Buffy had been
unresponsive until just before arriving at the hospital. æWhat did you
get into this time,Æ Joyce thought. æAnd why do you always seem to find
trouble wherever you go?Æ

Buffy stirred, moaned, then opened her eyes. She looked around quickly
and was relieved to see her mother beside her.

"WhereàWhat happened?" she asked, noticing that she was in a hospital.
Joyce smiled at her daughter, squeezing her hand as she talked to her.

"You gave us quite a scare, young lady. How do you feel?" Joyce watched
Buffy closely as her daughter shook her head, trying to find the right
words.

"Sore. Dizzy. Can I have some water?" Buffy asked, noticing the pitcher
near her bed. Her mother poured her a glass and held it for her while she
thirstily drank it down.

"Is that better?" Joyce asked. Buffy nodded, then let her head drop back
down on to the pillow.

"Do you remember what happened? Anything at all?"

Buffy tried to think back about the days events, but couldnÆt penetrate
the fog that had gathered in her head. "Just - just walking down the
beach. You had left for your meeting, and - thatÆs it." She shook her
head, but the motion only made the dizziness worse. "ThatÆs all I can
remember." Buffy had a distressed look on her face. "Mom, why canÆt I
remember?"

Mrs. Summers shushed her daughter and stroked her hair. "ItÆs okay,
honey, just lay back and rest. IÆm sure it will come back to you."

Buffy nodded and closed her eyes. Joyce just watched her daughter as she
drifted off, hoping that she would be okay.

Her eyes grew misty as she started thinking about what might of, or could
of, happened today. æWhat do I do now?Æ Looking at BuffyÆs sleeping form,
Mrs. Summers wished someone would give her an answer.

                ***

Buffy didnÆt know where she was. She couldnÆt see anything. There was a
bright light on her face, and someone was talking. The voice was
distorted, as if coming from a great distance.

"Tell us about the Unseen," someone was asking. Buffy was confused. What
was this person talking about? Unseen what?

The person kept asking her questions, gently prodding her to answer.

Needles. Several long, sharp looking needles. Buffy hated needles. One
needle touched her arm, stinging as it penetrated the skin.

Buffy gasped and sat bolt upright, screaming. Within a minute a nurse had
entered her room and was gently grasping her shoulders.

"Shh, honey, itÆs allright. Easy now, letÆs put your head back, okay?"
The nurse helped Buffy get comfortable again. "Do you want to tell me
about it?"

Buffy shook her head. "Just a nightmare." The nurse smoothed the sheets
around Buffy and helped her get comfortable.

"Call if you need anything, okay?" the nurse told her, brushing a stray
strand of hair out of BuffyÆs face. Buffy nodded at her.

"Sure." The nurse checked the IV line and then left the room.

æWhat a doozy,Æ Buffy thought. æWhere did this æUnseenÆ come from?Æ
Resolving to ask Giles about it, she closed her eyes and drifted off,
hoping that there would be no other dreams tonight.

Mrs. Summers had picked Buffy up in the morning after another checkup by
Dr. Cardillo and a chat with a Detective. The policeman had been
sympathetic, but could offer no realistic expectation of ever finding who
had done this. Buffy was still tired from her ordeal, and this made for a
quiet trip home.

This suited Joyce just fine, as she didnÆt know what to do first: hug her
again, or try not to cry in front of her daughter. She decided to do
nether until Buffy felt better. Buffy definitely looked like she could
use a great amount of TLC.

æWe can talk this out in a few days,Æ Joyce thought, glancing at her
daughter. æI just canÆt believe this has happened. SheÆs always been so
careful.Æ Joyce grimly looked out the windshield, as another unwelcome
thought came to her head.

æThis is my fault. I should never have left her alone.Æ She did resolve
to contact her ex-husband immediately after getting home. æI would think
that he would tell me if he had noticed any changes in BuffyÆs behavior,Æ
Joyce thought.

But then again, like most men, he probably didnÆt notice the most obvious
things going on around him. æHe damn well better notice this,Æ she
thought angrily. æWeÆve put Buffy through enough and maybe itÆs starting
to take a toll on her.Æ She looked at Buffy again, sleeping in the back
seat. æWe will have a talk when you feel better,Æ Joyce resolved.

Sunnydale - August 5, 1997

Buffy had recovered enough that she was like her old self after a few
days. Or mostly like herself, Giles mused, watching her go through a
workout in his back yard. He was updating his Journal with the shocking
information Buffy had given him about the previous weekend. He knew of no
supernatural entity that would do this to a person, so he was at a total
loss as how he could help this young woman with this problem.

This wasnÆt covered by his fathersÆ training, nor by any reference book
he had. And Giles didnÆt like faking it. He sat quietly as Buffy
continued her sparing, watching her moves, the obvious fury in her eyes,
the barred teeth as she continued to practice with a quarterstaff.

Buffy was soaked in sweat, yet still she kept driving herself. Harder,
faster, deadlier, she told herself, knocking the sparring dummy to the
ground. If I had been faster, maybe I wouldnÆt have this little gap in my
memory, she yelled at herself. And maybe my mother would still trust me,
and not afraid to let me out of the house without a bodyguard.

She hung her head, taking a break. She felt a tear running down her face.
æThatÆs what hurts the most,Æ she thought. æI had worked so hard to put
some of the things I had done in the past behind me. I know that I was
never the most responsible person in the world, but I was really trying
here. And now someone has gone and destroyed it.Æ

Giles had walked over, carrying a bottle of water that he offered her.
She took it without comment and proceeded to drain it. She could fell his
eyes on her.

"Giles, please, I know you want to help. I just donÆt think that thereÆs
anything you can do here." She balled her fists and stared at the ground.
"Looks like IÆm alone with this one."

"Absolutely not, Buffy. I am your Watcher, and need I remind you that I
am responsible for helping your mental state as well as the physical
one." He paused, looking for the right words. "Whoever did this to you
may never be caught. I canÆt do anything about that. But I can be here
for you, just like IÆve been through all our other trials." He looked
away from her, gathering his thoughts. "Give your mother some time,
Buffy. IÆm sure you and your mother will work the situation through."

Buffy snorted, then looked away from him. "Have you been hearing anything
IÆve said lately? SHE DOESNÆT TRUST ME! I donÆt think you have any idea
of just how much that hurts me." She wandered over to a chair and plopped
down on it. Tears streamed down her face freely now. "I-IÆve started to
think that maybe I did do something stupid."

Giles knelt in front of her, and took her hands in his. "Look at me,
Buffy." When she didnÆt look up, he repeated his words, a little more
forcefully. "LOOK AT ME!" She looked up, startled, not remembering the
last time he had used that tone of voice with her.

"WeÆve been together now for almost a year. I know you as if you were my
own daughter. YouÆre impulsive, free-spirited, and very loyal to those
whom you care about." He touched her cheek with one of his hands. It hurt
him deeply to see his young charge so distraught.

"But I have NEVER seen you do anything as idiotic as you think you have.
You are not that foolish. You were assaulted, Buffy, and I demand that
you cease this self-destructive thinking that youÆre doing." He smiled
slightly at her. "I need my Slayer to have her head together."

Buffy sniffed, wiped her eyes, then offered him a wan smile. "Thanks for
listening to me when I wigged out, Giles. IÆll keep it together, I
promise." She took the hand he offered as he helped her stand; then the
two of them walked into his house. She even managed a small laugh at some
joke he was trying to tell her. But inside, she still felt uneasy about
what had happened. Buffy didnÆt think that would change anytime soon.


                                End part
2.

------------------------------

End of buffyfic Digest V1 #42
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