Seventh (wow, I write a lot more than I thought!) in my still untitled series. You're welcome to send in any suggestions for a title… hint, hint, hint.
Disclaimer: The characters don't belong to me. Which sucks. (I don't have to mention not wanting to own Fish Boy anymore, `cause if you read the last story… : ) )
Spoilers: The rest of this series and up to IWRY.
Summary: The after effects of "The Initiative". Read it for the rest.
Distribution: If you have any of my others, go ahead. If you don't and you want it, ask first and send the address of your site. Thanks!
Feedback: Much appreciated, of course! : ) I also appreciate constructive criticism… As in write to me and tell me what's bad about my stories… PLEASE!!!!!! Although, this one really sucks, I know. I got bored with this idea so I wrote it fast to get it out of the way… and it shows. : (
Rating: PG—13

She went to the funeral service with Willow and Xander.

Not because she wanted to, but more along the lines of because she didn't really have a choice… Everyone knew that they'd been dating at some point, and it was expected of her to be there.

Willow and Xander came for moral support and because they were all afraid that the commandoes would try to do something.

There was no body there, because the explosion had apparently destroyed it. Instead, there was a picture of him, and all of his Sunnydale friends and the rest of the Sunnydale people who knew him gathered there for a memorial service.

The official service for Riley was being held in his hometown in Iowa, so that his family could attend.

Buffy shivered at the thought, grateful that she didn't have to meet Riley's family. Not only did she hate Fish Boy, she was also partially responsible for his death.

She couldn't have faced grieving parents. And she knew that the dead did no wrong in the eyes of a mother and father.

Despite the fact that she didn't have to worry about parents, she did have to worry about Forrest and Graham. Apparently, they'd survived the explosion, and they were present. They never even looked at her.

Most of the commandoes who knew who she was and knew of her connection to the bombing avoided her. Now was not the time to get into an altercation with her.

After the funeral ended, Buffy, Willow, and Xander left quickly. They'd done their duty, it was time to go home.

Where Willow would be doing a spell on Angel to see if the Initiative had done anything. They'd already tested for a chip, with Angel hitting Xander –much to his enjoyment, Xander insisted –and he didn't have one.

At least, he didn't have one like that. The spell would determine if the Initiative had planted anything in him, and if they had, they were going to remove it.

Angel had already warned them if that happened he was going to get drunk. He didn't trust any of them to do a painless surgery.

Spike had informed them gleefully that he'd watch, and he'd be next for a chip removal surgery.

Buffy had told him point blank that he was nuts, and there was no way in hell they'd be removing any chips… however, they'd be willing to remove other things if he wasn't nice.

He was very nice.

*

"So, how do you know if there is something?" Xander questioned, sitting on the couch. Angel and Willow were in the other room, and they could hear Willow chanting.

"I guess the magic will be attracted to it," Buffy said, shrugging. She was trying to keep her cool, but was having a hard time doing it. Her boyfriend was the one in danger at the moment. She was anything but calm.

"So it'll form a cloud over the area," Giles explained. "If there is anything."

"There is."

Everyone looked to the door where Willow stood now. "There's a chip, and it's in the back of his neck."

Buffy stood up and hurried into the room with Angel, already near tears.

The rest of the group sat in silence. This wasn't good at all.

"Who's doing the surgery?"

To Angel, the question was incredibly important. His neck was about to be surgically cut open and someone was about to dig around and remove a chip of some kind. Yeah, it was damn important who did it.

"Giles and Willow," Buffy answered, sitting across from him on the bed. "And Xander will be close by `cause he might know what the chip is."

"Because of all his army experience," Angel said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

Spike entered the bedroom, smirking, and tossed Angel a bottle of whiskey. "Got you the cheap kind."

Angel scowled at him. "I'm not that drunk yet."

"I know. And I hate to see a man drink alone, so I got two." Spike smirked and held up his own bottle. "Plenty for everyone."

Angel sighed. This was already going to be a long day.

*

Over two hours later, Willow and Giles were busy cutting open Angel's neck, and Xander was busy standing around. The rest of the group was gathered around trying to waste time.

Buffy was pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace. Willow had told her to get out of the operating bedroom when she'd started flinching every time she made a cut.

Anya and Cordelia were discussing fashion, and Spike, Oz and Doyle were discussing the benefits of already being drunk when you went to a bar. Doyle was far more knowledgeable in that area than Oz, but knew nothing compared to Spike.

Finally, Willow came out of the bedroom. "Got it," she announced, cheerful. "And it's broken now, and it can't do anything."

Buffy only heard the first part. She hurried into the bedroom to sit with Angel again.

Willow poked her head in, double-checking on him. "Everything okay?"

Angel nodded, grimacing. "Fine." Not only did he have a hell of a pain in his neck, but also a hangover. Albeit a little one, but still…

"Great." Willow smiled cheerfully. And then she fell over in a dead faint.

*

The surgeons of the day were rewarded for their labors by a free dinner. Angel, just relieved that it was over, sent Cordy and Doyle out to buy dinner for everyone. Fortunately, there were several take out restaurants nearby, so it was fairly easy to find food that everyone would like.

"Here's too the future doctor," Xander said cheerfully, raising his coke to Willow. "As long as she can get control over that whole fainting thing, anyway."

"Here, here," Buffy agreed softly. She shifted, cuddling up against Angel.

Willow blushed. Oz smiled in amusement at his girlfriend. She was so sweet…

"All right," Giles said, standing up. "I have company coming for the week," he announced. "I really must be going."

"See ya later G-man," Xander said, smiling a little.

"I've told you countless times…"

Giles sighed, not bothering to finish.

Buffy stood up and walked with Giles over to the door. "Thank you," she said softly, once the rest of the gang couldn't hear. She glanced over at Angel, then back at Giles. "Thank you so much." She knew it was still hard for him. Not as hard as it had once been, perhaps, but still… For Giles to be so good about helping all the time…

Giles smiled at her. Neither said anything else.

"Watcher-Slayer bonding moment?" Angel murmured as she rejoined him on the couch. The rest of the group was in an argument about whether magic of fighting was more exciting, so they didn't hear.

She nodded and got comfortable again.

She fell asleep almost immediately.

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