Disclaimer: The great characters of Buffy the vampire slayer belong to the wonderful Joss Weahdon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB. I am in no way making money off of this story. Yadda Yadda Yadda.
Oh, FYI, this story takes place just after Ted. In my world Surprise and Innocence never happened.

Part one

Buffy Summers tensed as she felt a cool breeze whispering over the shoulders of her backless dress. Turning to the door where the breeze had entered, she felt her heart sink , and fear set in. Standing in the doorway, a dark man beckoned her towards him . . . And Buffy had no power to disobey.

Buffy sat up in bed with a gasp. It was the dream again. Every night for the past few weeks. Over time the dream had grown stronger, more vivid. Buffy shook her head, and squinted her eyes at the clock. Four thirty in the morning, she thought.

Well, it really doesn’t look like I’ll be seeing anymore sleep tonight. Buffy sighed as she turned on her bedside lamp, and pulled the covers closer to her chin. Eyes darting around the room, she sunk deeper in to the covers, and started counting the shadows on the wall.

*Yawn* Buffy pulled her hands in front of her mouth trying to cover the fact that she was dead on her feet. Weeks of sleep deprivation was hard on anyone . . . even the slayer. God, Can this be anymore mathy-er, Buffy thought sarcastically, listening to her Algebra teacher drone on . . . and on. Buffy was startled when she head something go *smack* on her desk. She looked up to see a pair of hairy hands placed on her desktop. Ugh.

“Am I boring you Miss Summers?” Mr. Aivery asked.

“Umm . . .” Buffy stalled, “Not at all. I was just, just sitting here digesting it all.” Mr. Aivery gave a tight lipped smile, “Well, I hope you’ll be able to demonstrate how well you ‘digest’ on the final, which, by the way, you will be taking.” Buffy tried to give a smile in return, “I’m sure I’ll do . . . just that.”

Almost before the bell rang, Buffy was out of the class room. Why did math teachers have to be so boring? “Hey! It’s the Buffster,” Xander Harris called out, as he jogged to catch up with her, pulling Willow Rosenburg along with him.

“Hey, Buffy,” Willow said, noticing the expression on her friends face. “What’s wrong?” Buffy sighed, “Oh nothing killing my Algebra teacher wouldn’t fix.”

“Ahh,” Xander murmured, “Old Mr. Aivery strikes again.”

“You know,” Willow added, “I’ve heard he’s had six death threats already.” Buffy smiled a little, “And the year’s just begun.”

“So,” Xander remarked, “We bronzin’ tonight?”

“I don’t know,” Buffy began, “I was thinking about going home and crashing for a while.” And then you’ll have those lovely little dreams. “Then again,” she said, “Maybe not.”

“Oh,” Willow grinned, “Up late talking to Angel?”

“I wish. I haven’t seen him in forever,” Buffy complained. Xander spoke up cynically, “And this is a bad thing?” Both girls gave him ‘a look’. Xander ignored them and pushed open the library doors.

“You aren’t having bad dreams again?” Willow asked concerned. The last time Buffy had had bad dreams, Willow was kidnapped by vamps and almost killed.

“Well,” Buffy said, “Actually, I sorta am.”

“Have you told Giles?” Willow asked, raising her voice.

“Has she told me what?” Giles said, poking his head out of his office. “Its nothing.” Buffy said, slumping into a one of the library’s chairs. “She’s been having nightmares.” Willow announced. Giles looked up quickly, “Really?” He was a little surprised. Lately, the paranormal had leaned more towards the normal, but that was life on a hell mouth. “How long have you been having them?” Giles spoke up.

“A few weeks,” Buffy said quietly, “I didn’t think that they were important.

“A few weeks?! Are you crazy Buffy? The slayers dreams are very relevant to,”

“To the vampire activity going on. I know Giles,” Buffy said stubbornly, “But they weren’t about vamps.” Giles sighed loudly, “Then what were they about?”

Buffy looked apprehensively at her watcher and her friends. She sighed, defeated. “The dream starts out differently . . . but it always ends the same. I feel a cool breeze enter the room, or the garden. I look up, and he’s standing there. I can’t tell who he is ‘cause he’s covered in shadows. But he is definitely not a vamp. He wants me to come to him. And I don’t want to, but can’t stop.” Giles and the rest looked at here expectantly, “And?”

“And that’s it. I wake up,” Buffy said, getting up. Giles looked perplexed. “That’s it?” he asked. Buffy nodded. “Well,” Giles shook his head, “I must consult my books.”

“You go do that,” Buffy said, latching onto Willow and Xander’s arms. The trio left the library together, headed to second period.

Part two

“So,” Buffy called, peaking her head into the library, “Did you find any meaning to my dreams Giles?” Giles tore his eyes away from his books.

“No,” Giles said honestly, “I rather think Buffy, that its just stress.” Buffy was in shock. Her watcher had admitted that she was right. Well, not exactly but close enough to make her happy.

“See Giles,” Buffy taunted, “I knew I was right. My dreams were just that, dreams.” Giles looked at her sternly.

“Even so Buffy,” he chided, “You should have come to me. Until just a few minutes ago, I was sure that they meant something.” Buffy was curious.

“So, how did you come to this revelation? I wasn’t thinking that you were a dream expert,” Buffy said.

“Actually,” Giles laughed, “I realized that the easiest thing to do would be to call angel. He said he didn’t sense any new evil in this area. I even explained to him your dreams.” Buffy was shocked.

“What? You told Angel about my dreams. Giles! That was in the strictness of confidences,” Buffy shouted. It was Giles turn to be angry.

“Buffy! I promise you that I did not mean to be a gossiping ninny. I don’t understand why you have to hide this from Angel. You told Xander and Willow. What was the difference.”

“Have you heard of intrigue Giles? He knows all about me, and I know hardly a thing about him. Unfair much! The difference is that it was my dream. If I wanted to tell him, I would have.” With that, Buffy ran from the library blindly. How could he betray her trust. There were just some things that a girl doesn’t want her boyfriend to know, even if he is a 241 year old vampire. As she turned the corner, Buffy found herself falling to the ground after she crashed into something.

Make that somebody. Buffy opened her eyes to find her self starring into a devastating pair of crystal blue eyes. “Oh, God,” she murmured, “I am so sorry.” The boy just laughed.

“Don’t worry,” he said, “It was my fault. Should watch where I’m going more, huh? Hey you’re Buffy right, I’m Ryan . . . Ryan Neely.” The boy stuck out his hand to help her up. Buffy smiled.

“Yeah, I’m Buffy.” Nice conversation starter girl. “Um, you’re in my English class right. You’re new.” Ryan nodded in agreement as he picked her bag off of the floor and slid it on to her shoulder.

“I really liked the way you read Ophelia . . . You know the other day in class. ‘You know the other day in class.’ That sounded pretty stupid,” Ryan shook his head. Buffy laughed.

“You have a nice laugh,” he said. “So,” he started again, “Do you have to be some where right now?” Buffy turned, feeling her heart sink. She had promised her mom that she would be right home to help catalog new inventory for the gallery.

“Actually,” Buffy said with regret, “I have to get home.” Ryan nodded.

“Well good for me, because I don’t have to be any where. I’ll walk you.” Buffy smiled.

“I’d like that.” And she did.

Part Three

Dear Diary,

I met this great guy today. His name’s Ryan Neely. He walked me home today . . . He is so sweet. And he actually was hanging on my every word, unlike some people. Its nice to talk to a boy about fun things. Ryan and I talked for fifteen minutes about that nine yards thing. You know, it bothers him too. I would never be able to talk like that with Angel. Speaking of Angel, I can’t believe Giles told him about my dream. I should have been the one telling him . . . If I decided to tell him at all. Angel is sometimes annoying that way . . .

Buffy dropped the her diary when she heard a scraping at her window. “Angel!” she cried out when she realized it was him. “You scared me, Mr. Cryptic man.” Angel frowned.

“Sorry,” he murmured. Buffy watched him as he made his way over to her shelf, looking for Mr. Gordo. Something was wrong.

“Uh, Angel,” Buffy started, “Not like I’m not thrilled to see you, but what are you doing here?” She hardly ever saw Angel unless he had some bad news, and lately, she hadn’t seen him at all. Angel turned to her, gripping the stuffed pig for support.

“I can’t believe you’re thinking about another guy,” he blurted out. Buffy started to panic. Eye’s wide, she stumbled over her words, “Whha . . .What?”

“Giles told me about your dreams,” Angel continued, “I mean, he told me that you were dreaming of another guy.” Buffy breathed a slight sigh of relief.

“Angel,” she started, “It wasn’t like that. That’s part of the reason I wanted to tell you myself. And its more of a nightmare than a dream.” Angel moved closer to her, and sat on her bed. Buffy felt his eyes probing hers. Buffy continued, “I can’t control myself in the dream. I can’t stop myself from going to him, even though I’m scared. From the first moment I feel the breeze . . . see the shadows . . . I’m scared.” Angel pushed a piece of hair behind Buffy’s ear.

“I’m sorry for barging in on you like this,” Angel said shyly, “So late, and with you not sleeping.” Buffy smiled at him.

“That’s okay, no worries.” Angel stood up and tucked the blanket around Buffy. Placing a soft kiss on her forehead, he walked back over to the window. Before he got there, Angel felt himself kick something softly. He bent down to examine the nuisance. It was Buffy’s diary. Angel walked back over to Buffy, and handed it over to her clutching arms. Blushing slightly, Buffy watched Angel go.

Part 4

“Good morning, Giles!” Buffy called happily, entering the library. Giles looked up quickly.

“About yesterday, Buffy,” he began, but Buffy waved him off, with an odd smile on her face.

“You’re sorry,” she said, “I know. I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have run out on you like that. Even though I was right.” Giles sighed, giving up the argument before it began. He turned to take a good look at Buffy. She showed only a few signs of sleeplessness.

“I assume, by your mood that the nightmares have cleared up . . .” he ventured. Buffy smiled.

“Nope.” Giles creased his forehead in concentration. He was about to question her further when he heard the heavy library doors swing open again.

“Hey Mr. Giles!” Willow called out cheerfully, pulling on her overalls.

“Morning G-man!” Xander yelled, swinging his backpack onto one of the chairs.

“I told you never to call me that Xander!” Giles said exasperated. < Teenagers. If it wasn’t hard enough caring for a slayer . . . Let alone a very trying slayerette. > Giles managed a pleasant hello to Willow, before returning to the stacks.

“What was his problem?” Buffy squinted up her forehead. “Too much tea?” Xander quipped.

“What does Giles have you battling today?” Xander asked. Buffy smiled a little.

“There is nothing to battle. Thankfully, he’s been going really easy on this training thing lately,” she signed. Even the mention of training . . . Ugh.

“Maybe you’re milking this whole ‘nightmares thing’” Willow ventured, quietly, afraid to offend the slayer. Buffy turned to look at her best friend, hurt.

“Well,” she whined, “I’m working through this whole post traumatic stress thing. First it was the assassins. . . Then the ‘other’ slayer . . . and don’t forget that whole Ted thing.” Willow shook her head.

“This is my stop guys,” she called. Willow walked into the computer lab, turning back to watch Buffy cling to Xander’s arm. < Buffy says that she doesn’t like him like that, but it wouldn’t be hard to convince her self that Buffy did. >

“So, Xander . . .” Buffy whispered conspiratorially into Xander’s ear. Xander shivered a little at her voice. “Tell me about you and Cordelia.” Xander stumbled a step or two forward.

“Uhhh, What do you mean Buffy? Me and Cordy? Nahhhh, never . . . that’s crazy talk!” Xander felt himself start to sweat as they neared the stairs. Buffy gave a knowing smile.

“Sure Xander. If that’s what you keep telling yourself,” she sang. Xander shook his head vehemently.

“Buffy?” he questioned, “I think the stress is getting to you. In a few days, you’ll realize how crazy you’ve been and we’ll laugh about it.” Buffy nodded her head.

“I believe you . . . But all that stuff Cordelia was saying about what a great kisser you are seemed so real,” Buffy lamented. Xander started to cough.

“She told you! I’m going to kill her! ” Buffy started to laugh as Xander rubbed his hands over his eyes.

“I knew it! Buffy called gleefully. < Xander and Cordy . . . that was match made in hell . . mouth that is. > Buffy giggled as Xander opened his eyes again.

“Cordelia never did say anything did she? You made that up?” Xander accused. Buffy laid a hand on his chest, pushing him closer to the stairs.

“I only did that because you would have lied to me.”

“So . . . are you mad . . . about me and Cordelia are you?”

“Nope,” Buffy shook her head, “She’s not my favorite person, well she’s one of my least favorite people . . . but that’s not the point. You like her. That’s all that really matters.”

“By the way,” Xander asked curious, “How did you know?”

“These slayer senses shouldn’t go to waste, now should they?” At Xander’s look, Buffy sighed exasperated, “All those compliments . . . increased tension . . . Time spent in the broom closet . . . Doesn’t take a genius to figure out.”

“No, I guess it didn’t,” Xander teased.

Buffy went to playfully hit him, when she tripped, falling into Xander’s arms. < Maybe Giles does have a point about sensible slayer shoes . . . Nah! >

“You okay Buffy?” Xander asked concerned. Buffy shook her head as Xander straitened her up. Suddenly Buffy’s spider sense picked up, and the hair on the back of her neck prickled. A cool breeze seemed to creep across the campus . . . picking up strength. Xander started to shiver, and looked up to the sky. He didn’t see the man stumbling toward him, but Buffy did.

Struggling against the wind, Buffy pushed Xander out of the guy’s path. Just in time for him to careen into her. Buffy let out a strangled yelp as she tumbled down the long stairwell. The last thing she heard before she hit her head, was Xander calling out her name.

Part Five

“Oh, man,” the guy said nervously, “I am so sorry about your girlfriend.” Xander pushed him out of his way, as he watched the medics carefully pick Buffy’s stretcher up and put her in the ambulance.

“I didn’t do it on purpose, man!” the guy called out once more before Xander left to take Willow’s side. She had tears running down her cheeks. She had never seen Buffy like that before. Buffy’s hands had been so cold, and her face had been so pale. Xander wrapped his arms around her protectively. Even Giles had tears in his eyes.

“Don’t worry guys,” Xander reassured them, “Buffy’s gonna be okay . . . she’s like a super slayer.”

“I hope you’re right, Xander,” Giles said, “I hope that you’re right.” The three of them watched as the ambulance roared away into the distance.

Buffy felt like she was swimming just under the surface of the ocean, but she couldn’t quite push her way to the surface. She knew vaguely what had happened to her, but couldn’t speak. She heard the medic’s voices through ears stuffed full of cotton. Everything was confusing and frightening, but Buffy was too weak to do any thing about it. She started to panic when she realized that she was in an ambulance headed to a hospital emergency room. Buffy struggled to the surface, making soft noises in the back of her throat.

Through the haze, she heard a soothing voice. “Its okay . . . calm down . . I promise that it will be okay.” He reached down to hold her hand as the ambulance rushed to the hospital. Taking a look into his kind eyes, Buffy slipped into unconsciousness.

The paramedics wheeled Buffy into the emergency room, and into the hands of the doctors. The medic rubbed his hands through his hair, as he was forced to let go of the girl’s hand.

Part six

Xander turned, feeling a sharp blast of cold air tug at his clothes. As he turned, he heard a carnal scream and fell to his knees before a dark shadow. Xander let out a scream as the shadow started to pummel him into the ground. In the distance he heard a soft voice call his name.

“Xander. Xander!” Willow yelled, shaking her friend. Trying to wake him up. They were waiting in the emergency room for news about Buffy. Giles came up behind Willow.

“Are you well, Mr. Harris?” Giles asked, running his hands through his short hair. Xander shook his head, trying to come back to reality. The dream had seemed so real.

“Um, yeah,” he murmured. Willow looked at him suspiciously.

“What happened?” she asked quietly, “Were you dreaming about Buffy?”

“No,” Xander said, “I was dreaming about . . . Well in my dream it was a shadow. The shadow attacked me!” Willow and Giles stared at him skeptically.

“A shadow?” Willow whispered, “Sorta like Buffy’s dreams.” Giles looked up sharply.

“Do you think this has to do with Buffy? Could the dreams be connected in some way?” Giles asked. Willow nodded. Both dreams seemed similar.

“What do you mean?” Xander asked, “I’m having Buffy’s nightmares?” He looked to the watcher.

“Quite possibly Xander,” Giles agreed, “Quite possible.” Giles turned away from the teenagers, lost in thought.

Part Seven

Willow looked from her best friend . . . to the watcher . . . to the head nurse . . . to the emergency room doors, waiting for some news or some action. But the space was still. All three heads perked up when they saw a doctor. Xander ran to the short, balding man, assaulting him with questions. The doctor held his hands up for silence.

“I can only speak to Miss Summer’s family. There is such a thing as patient confidentiality,” he said sternly. Giles looked at the kids and spoke up.

“I’m Buffy’s father. Go on.” The doctor looked at him doubtfully, but went on.

“Buffy has suffered a slight concussion, minor bruising of the ribs, and she dislocated her left shoulder. Along with a few minor cuts and bruises, she should be fine. Lucky girl. The fall should have been a lot worse . . . and I must admit, my first examination was more startling. But, for some reason, she seems to be pulling through very fast. You can take her home tonight.”

Xander hugged Willow close, as they waited for Buffy to be wheeled out of the emergency room.

“Giles,” Willow said curiously, “What did the doctor mean when he said that Buffy was pulling through very fast?” Giles turned to her absentmindedly.

“Slayer super healing, Willow. I suspect that the fall would have killed any normal person.” Giles walked away quickly, not noticing the look on Willow’s face.

A little past midnight, an orderly rolled Buffy in a wheelchair out to Giles’s car. Xander and Willow helped Buffy, who was decidedly quiet, into the car. During the ride, everyone was shooting the slayer nervous, worried glances, which she didn’t seem to notice. As quickly as possible, the slayerettes got Buffy into the safety of her home. If the vampires knew the state she was in, Buffy would officially become slayer surprise.

After settling Buffy into bed, Giles walked Willow and Xander to the door. Willow looked at Giles nervously.

“Is she going to be okay?” Xander asked. Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

“I suspect so, yes. It must be the pain killers that are keeping her so still.” He chuckled a little at the thought of Buffy, super slayer, being carried, and tucked into bed. Xander raised his eyebrows, and gave him a strange look. Giles cleared his throat.

“Yes, now, Buffy will be okay. You two go and rest. Get some sleep. I’ll stay with Buffy for the night. Make sure she sleeps all right.”

Giles awoke from his perch on the couch to a strange sound coming from Buffy’s bedroom. Shoving the afghan off of himself, Giles grabbed a stake from his breast pocket, and made his way quietly up the stairs to Buffy’s room. Standing over his slayer was a dark figure. Raising the stake, Giles charged. With a savage snarl, the dark figure grabbed Giles wrist harshly. Giles took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

“Angel?”

“What are you doing here?” Giles asked angrily. Embarrassed at his actions. Angel shook his head.

“Same as you I guess. I thought Buffy would be alone . . . since her mother is out of town.” Giles nodded.

“Yes, Yes, Good. But I still think that it would have been better if you came to the front door.”

“I would have, if I had known you were here,” Angel growled softly, “Its not like anyone called me.” Giles flushed. Angel continued, “I was at the around . . . hunting . . . when Buffy didn’t show, I got worried. I went to the Bronze. Cordellia told me what had happened.”

“Well yes,” Giles said, taking control of the situation, “Now you know and now you can go.”

“If its all the same with you,” Angel said, looking wistfully up the stairs, “I’d like to stay too.” With that Angel walked back up the stairs.

Part Eight

Buffy yawned in the dark, and tried to stretch her arms, flinching at the pain she encountered. She started to panic when she felt a body pressed up against hers. Buffy grunted lightly, trying to wedge her way from under the body. Suddenly the body stired.

“Angel?” Buffy asked, confused. Angel looked over at her lovingly.

“Yes,” he whispered, pulling her gently to him.

“What happened?” Buffy questioned, fear creeping into her voice. Angel ran a light, conforting hand through her hair.

“You had an accident with the stairs at school Buffy. The doctors realeased you. Don’t you remember?” Buffy turned a little, her eyes finally showing recognition.

“Yes . . .” she said slowly, “But it wasn’t an accident.”

Buffy settled back into the crook of Angel’s arms and fell asleep again. Angel waited until he was sure Buffy was asleep, and crept out of her room, meaning to speak to Giles before he fled from the sun.

Buffy rubbed an her eyes aimlessly, as she made her to the kitchen. With the smell of eggs and the crakle of bacon in her mind, Buffy walked down the hall. “Good morning sleepy head!” Giles called to her from the stove. Buffy raised her eyebrows.

“Um, hey Giles. This is weird.”

“How so Buffy?” Giles asked, bring a plate full of food to the place where Buffy was sitting.

“I guess I just never pictured you as the ‘homemaker type’,” she apologized. Giles nodded quickly.

“I want you to eat breakfast, and get dressed . . . . but first I want to reajust the sling on your arm,” he muttered. Buffy looked down, still confused. She hadn’t even noticed a sling.

“Yeah, okay, mom,” Buffy said sarcastically as Giles came over to her. Giles frowned as he began to fiddle with the straps on her sling. Buffy winced as Giles moved her arm.

“The doctor said that you’ll be fine. With your slayer senses, I’m sure that you’ll be up to par in a few days. Was there something about the fall . . . I mean the fall was an accident right?” Giles questioned, concerned.

“I don’t know Giles,” Buffy murmured, “I felt my slayer senses pick up right before the boy knocked me down.” Giles looked up sharply.

“What boy?” Seeing the meaning in Giles eyes, Buffy quickly explained.

“It wasn’t the boy’s fault. The wind knocked him tword us. I bearly had time to push Xander out of the way.”

“Xander? What about Xander Buffy?”

“As weird as this may sound Giles,” Buffy said, “It seemed to me that the boy . . . no! the wind . . . was aiming at Xander.”

Part nine

Giles sighed as he looked through the useless whatcher books. An answer just wasn’t there. He knew that there was a connection betweeen what had happened to Buffy and her dreams, but he just couldn’t find any. It was so strange. Never had he heard of a slayer experiencing these kind of dreams.

Gile looked up as he heard the door to the library swing open.

“Jenny?”

Jenny Calendar smiled at the rumpled whatcher.

“Hey, Rupert. Willow told me you were having trouble with somthing? Some thing about dreams. I thought I could help.”

Giles smiled.

“Yeah, I am actually. Do you thing you could go on that dread machine and ‘search’ for what I’m looking for?” Jenny grinned, “Sure Rupert. But you’re going to have to tell me all about it first. With a defeated look, Giles began.

Buffy winced as she tried to open the glass entrance doors on the school building. Her history teacher had been nice and let her get a head start to lunch since she was “injured.” Now she was making her way to the bench out side where she always met Xander and Willow for lunch. Of course, it would help if she could get the door open.

A strong had reached from behind her and pushed it open. It was Ryan.

“Do you need a little help?” he asked. Buffy smiled. Ryan slid her bag off of her shoulder and threw it on his own, and guided her to a near by bench.

“I heard about what happened. I was there actually. I got you something . . . to make you feel better.” Ryan reached behind his back and handed Buffy a small boque of flowers.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Buffy began, but Ryan shushed her by placing a finger on her lips.

“Yes I did. I was coming up to talk to you when I saw you and Xander together. I feel like if I had been there earlier I could have caught you.” Buffy looked away embarrased.

“It’s not your fault. I guess I’m just clumsy. Good ol’ clumsy Buffy.” Ryan shook his head angrily.

“You are not clumsy. You’re perfect. It was the idiot Xander’s fault. But you tried to save your boyfriend. You must love him alot.” Buffy looked back at him quickly.

“Um, yeah. No. Xander’s not my boyfriend,” Buffy whispered, trying to read Ryan’s eyes. Ryan looked relieved, as he got up to leave.

“I better get going. I told the teacher I would be back in class before the bell rang for lunch.” Buffy just stared after him.