Chapter Three: Help
As Buffy gradually gained consciousness, she tried to take in her surroundings. Her eyelids felt heavy, making it hard for her to open her eyes more than halfway. Through hooded lids her vision was blurred, and all she could see were white walls. She couldn’t even lift her head to try and see what she was lying on.
She racked her brain, trying to remember the last place she’d been, but found herself too tired to think of anything at all. As hard as she tried to stay awake, it seemed as though her body was working twice as hard to get her to rest.
Buffy used all her slayer strength to force her eyes open when she heard an electronic key at the door. It opened to reveal Professor Walsh, clad in a white lab coat.
"You’re finally awake, I see."
Buffy tried to respond, but her throat was too dry to make out any sound other than a squeak. She moistened her throat, gulping several times in an attempt to get her voice back.
Professor Walsh made her way closer to Buffy, undoing the restraints that Buffy could now see on her arms and legs. "These won’t be necessary now that you are under our control." Despite her voice confidence, Professor Walsh extracted a stun gun from her pocket in case the drugs had not done their intended job to sedate the slayer.
When the restraints were removed, Professor Walsh watched Buffy carefully for any sign of retaliation on the slayer’s part. "I’m sure you are wondering why you’re here," the scientist started. "Dr. Angelman and I intend to research you to the fullest. The research done on you will prove extremely useful in our project." Professor Walsh looked at Buffy pointedly. "314. The project you made so many inquiries toward."
Professor Walsh walked around to the other side of Buffy’s bed. She picked up Buffy’s right arm, showing her a needle sticking into her inner elbow. "This I.V. will provide you nourishment. It will also, at set intervals, pump sedatives into your system so you will remain tranquil and allow us to complete our research." Buffy tried to lift her left arm over her body, but failed and could only watch as it plopped back onto the bed. "And don’t try to extract the I.V. or you will most likely bleed to death."
"Riley," Buffy managed to breathe out.
"Agent Finn will no longer be in touch with you. He has direct orders, along with the rest of the soldiers, to stay away from this room," Professor Walsh told her sternly. "Riley will not turn his back on the Initiative."
***
The first thing Willow noticed when she stepped inside her dorm room was that nothing in the room had been touched since she’d left hours before. She’d hoped that helping Giles and Spike would take her mind off of her problems with Buffy, but it hadn’t. It was all she’d thought about, especially when Giles asked about the slayer. Willow didn’t like covering up for her friend, but it really wasn’t any of Giles' business who Buffy was spending the night with. She was sure Buffy would want it that way.
"Not like she cares what we think anymore," Willow told herself gloomily. "She’s got her new buds at the Initiative."
Willow sat on her bed with a sigh. She was losing her best friend to a military operation.
"Well, I’ve got my own new bud." Willow stood, grabbing her purse and keys on the way to the door.
***
"So she meets Riley and his friends and it’s all staying out all night and not checking in," Willow complained. "She hasn’t been back to our room since yesterday morning."
"S-sounds like she’s busy," Tara offered taking a sip of her cappuccino.
They were seated at a table in the Espresso Pump. Willow had sought out Tara, who had dutifully listened to her rant over her problems with Buffy. Willow really needed to voice her feelings, and Tara was the only one she could really talk to about this particular situation. The subject matter was too sensitive to burden Xander with.
"She’s always been busy," Willow replied. "Buffy, well, she’s always got a lot going on. But she’s always made time for her best friends before." Willow frowned into her cup of tea. "It’s like we don’t even exist anymore."
"I’m sure that’s not it. I mean, I don’t know Buffy that well, b-but that’s probably not what’s happening." Tara gave Willow a reassuring smile.
Willow noticed three familiar guys walking down the street. Probably searching for Hostile 17, she thought mischievously with a grin. If Riley was out on a mission, that meant Buffy had to be in their room.
"It’s getting late," Willow told Tara, feeling horrible for the excuse. "We should get back to campus."
***
Willow stepped into her dorm room for the second time that night feeling amiss. The room was exactly how she’d left it. Something wasn’t right. Tara was right, it wasn’t like Buffy to completely ignore her friends. Even with something as important as the Initiative in her life.
She rushed over to her desk and scribbled a note telling Buffy to stay in the room no matter what. If Buffy ever read that note she would probably think it was some grave emergency and phone Giles, but that was even better. At least Willow would know that Buffy was alright.
Leaving the note on Buffy’s pillow, Willow raced out the door once more.
***
"Thanks for coming with me, guys. I really didn’t feel like searching the cemeteries alone." Willow hugged her jacket closer to her body against the night chill.
"No problem," Xander replied gripping the stake in his hand tighter. "It’s what we do."
Anya nodded. "Even if what we should be doing is working hard in Xander’s basement to reach multiple orgasms."
Willow cringed at the mental image her brain provided her with. "Anyway," she started after giving herself a moment to recuperate from Anya’s last bout of imagery. "I’m really starting to get worried about her. I mean if she did spend the night with Riley, she’d definitely come home to gush about it!"
"Maybe she’s still with Riley. Maybe he’s still giving her orgasms."
Willow glared at Anya. "Can’t you make her stop that?" she asked Xander. "And, she can’t be. I saw Riley out patrolling with his military pals a little while ago."
After roaming their fifth graveyard the three were ready to call it a night. Willow was growing increasingly worried about her friend. Not that Buffy couldn’t handle herself in a fight, but there were still a lot of things they didn’t know about the Initiative. They packed some serious weaponry and who really knew what they were capable of?
"No sign of the Buffster," Xander commented, trying to ease the tension. But when he looked into Willow’s eyes she saw her concerns mirrored back at her.
"This is odd," Anya said with a nod. "Usually Buffy loves to spend her time in cemeteries."
Willow nodded along with the ex-demon. "I think we need help."
|
