He was on patrol alone the next night, still feeling a little sorry for himself after last night’s ditching. He had left the bar not long after, fed up sitting alone, and had made his way home alone. His mood was lower than ever, as the feeling that he was on the outside got stronger and stronger. In moments of honesty with himself, he even admitted that he was jealous of the role Spike had taken up in the group – and even more so of the way he and Buffy were treating each other lately.

It was stupid but he couldn’t stop himself and he decided to hit the streets of Sunnydale in search of distraction. It wasn’t long before he happened upon a vampire just about to tuck into his dinner – a middle-aged woman – and he jumped straight into the fray, dragging the woman aside and shouting at her to run. He turned back to the vampire then with a slight smile, slipping a stake out of his jacket and wrapping his fingers around it tightly.

“You’re going to regret that, mate,” the vampire growled, eyes glowing golden in the darkness.

Ignoring the vampire’s taunt, he focussed on watching the creature intently, waiting for his next move. Then the hit came behind and he realised as he went down that the vampire wasn’t alone. He heard a laugh from his first opponent and rolled onto his back, looking up at the two vampires – one female, one male – now looking down at him with amusement.

“Not so big now, eh?” the vampiress hissed, slipping into game face.



He jumped to his feet quickly and backhanded her across the face, sending her into the wall. Her partner, not pleased by this, jumped him a moment later, kicking him into a bin and winding him. He turned quickly though and, grabbing a nearby bin lid, slammed it into the vampire’s side before he could reach him again. It was only a momentary victory though and a moment later, the lid was ripped out of his hands and thrown away. The vampire hissed at him and lunged, punching him hard in the face.

“Get him, Jerry!”

He managed to duck the next hit but a swift kick to the stomach sent him to his knees. He tried to roll out of the way before the next hit got him but the vampire’s punch landed on his head, sending him crashing headfirst into the wall behind. He felt the hard brick tearing at his skin and when he managed to right himself, one eye was blinded with blood. The vampires stood a few feet away now, regarding him hungrily as he tried to stem the flow of blood from his forehead.

The male – Jerry - took a step forward but before he could take another, he was gone, exploding in a burst of dust as a crossbow flew through his chest. Raising his head, he spotted Buffy’s form at a slight distance, crossbow aimed and ready to go. The vampiress faltered and turned to run but too late, as Buffy had already pulled the trigger.



She approached him slowly and dropped to a crouch in front of him.

"You don’t look so good,” she commented with a tiny smile, glancing at his head.

“I thought there was only one,” he explained, giving a grim smile.

Supporting himself against the wall, he pushed himself slowly to his feet, one hand held to his bleeding head.

“We should get you somewhere, clean you up,” Buffy said, “All that blood’s going to attract even more vamps.”

“My place is just round the corner actually,” he spoke up, pointing in that direction, “Didn’t get far.”

She smiled and gave him a look of concern as he took a few uncertain steps.

“Are you okay?” she asked, reaching out as if to steady him.

“Yeah, just a little blood loss,” he joked, smiling even as he felt woozy.

“Let’s get you home,” she answered with a smile, moving closer as he struggled along – ready to catch him if he stumbled.



They reached his apartment and he dragged the keys out of his pocket, letting them both in and leading her up the stairs to the small studio. He lowered himself to the couch and held out his hand, regarding the blood that now stained it.

“Have you got supplies?” she asked.

“Bathroom,” he answered with a nod in that direction.

She disappeared and reappeared a moment later with the first aid kit, placing it down and sitting next to him.

“You were lucky I was nearby,” she commented, pulling out a few wipes and opening them.

“I was hoping to get out of this with my masculinity intact, but obviously not.”

She smiled ever so slightly and wiped at his head, causing him to wince. She worked in silence and he found himself taking her in, eyes taking in her features with the benefit of closeness. She looked tired and there was a noticeable dullness in her eyes.

“It’s not so bad,” she spoke up, sitting back and meeting his gaze – and looking away a moment later.

She took up a bandage and placed it gently across his forehead, taping it down.

“So I’ll live?”

She smiled and pulled away, replacing the supplies in the kit.

“Thanks.”

She nodded and shifted back a little, placing the kit on the nearby table and now taking a chance to look around the room.



“Nice place.”

“It’s okay. Better than a tent so I can’t complain.”

She regarded him for a moment and then spoke up.

“Where were you? I mean, where did you go… after…”

“Belize at first. Then Mexico, Peru, a whole load of other places… wherever we were needed.”

“But you left them and came back here,” she got out uncertainly, eyes flicking to his and away again.

“Yeah,” he said softly, regarding her with tenderness.

She looked up and held his gaze for a moment before she turned away again.

“So you’re back to stay?”

“I don’t know yet.”

She nodded and then forced a smile.

“Sorry for the grilling. We’ll have to properly catch up sometime.”

“Not much to tell.”

She raised an eyebrow and he smiled.

“Can’t tell me or you’ll have to kill me?” she asked with a smile.

“Just not very interesting,” he answered with a laugh, “Fought the good fight and that was about it. I didn’t exactly have time for much else.”

She nodded understandingly and they fell into a silence.



“I should get going,” she spoke up after a while, “Patrol to continue and all. I said I’d drop by and get Spike on the way.”

He got to his feet with her, trying to ignore that pang of jealousy once more. She headed for the door and he followed her, opening it for her and leaning against it.

“Be more careful next time you’re out,” she warned gently.

“I learnt my lesson.”

“Good,” she said with a smile.

She stepped outside but lingered a moment longer.

“I’ll see you again soon.”

“Yeah.”

She smiled once more and made her way down the stairs, glancing back up once before slipping out of the door. He shut his own door and leant against it, losing himself to reverie for a moment before shaking it off and moving into the apartment, his pride dented and his jealousy only worsened.