Buffy spun around to stare at her "watcher", "What do you mean `bot,
Giles? I'm no more of a `bot than you are." She huffed
in very real
indignation.
"It is a simple equation to make, Buffy is dead, ergo the Buffy
sitting in front of me is a robot, or a figment of my imagination.
It would seem that everyone else in the room can see you, therefore
you are most likely a robot. One which has no knowledge of the
fact."
Buffy stood and walked to the watcher, "Touch me Giles." She stroked
his hand with one warm, stake-calloused hand. "I am me, I promise."
Giles looked at her, then looked at Spike, "Call Anya and Xander, I
think we may need her assistance in working this conundrum out."
The
Briton shifted his attention to Willow, "Have you ... "
He appeared
to realise that Willow was prone on the sofa for a good reason.
He
rushed to her side in a paroxysm of concern, "Willow, are you quite
alright?"
The red head looked up at him from her position on the couch, "Giles,
it was a shock, I mean I saw her die. I didn't even think of
the
possibility that she might be a `bot. But if she is, she has
more
natural speech patterns than any other I have ever encountered."
The
little witch perked up as her mind became engaged in the
problem. "If she will agree to let me examine her, it will be
easy
enough to determine."
Buffy looked at the hacker with serious trepidation on her face.
She
recognised that look in those jade eyes. The look that said what
a
fascinating question, who do I have to dissect to figure out the
answer? She was deeply afraid of that look. "Now, Willow,
can we
discuss this, Slayer to best friend. `Cause I really don't want
you
cutting into me to find out if I am real. Which I am, by the
way."
She added hastily.
Willow smiled softly, then grinned, "Well, I don't think vivisection
will be needed, but I will have to prick your skin just a bit."
The
grin on her face widened as she saw the slayer wince. "It won't
hurt
silly, and if you are Buffy, you will heal in a few moments."
"But, it will hurt," whined the blonde.
"Well, yes, but only for a moment. I just have to check to see
if
you have circuits."
"But, but ... "
"Now, no buts. Be a brave little slayer and let Willow find out
if
you are real."
Buffy cast frightened eyes around the room looking for someone,
anyone to help her, but found no help there. Spike looked amused
and
Giles, well Giles looked like someone had killed his Citroen again.
She looked helplessly at her `friends'. What in the world did
she do
now? Her question was answered by a familiar scream from the
entrance to the room. She spun around to see her little sister,
standing and screaming at the top of her lungs. She did have
a good
set of pipes on her.
She stared in amazement as Dawn ran to the blond vampire and threw
her arms around him. "Spike, what is going on here? Why
does she
look like Buffy?"
"Well Platelet, we are trying to figure that one out ourselves.
All
I know is she showed up at the door, and Willow fainted ... "
"Willow, are you okay?"
"Yes honey, I'm fine, and what are you doing up anyway? You have
school tomorrow, and no, you are not gonna to use Buff ... well
whoever she is as an excuse to skip school. I heard you and Spike
studying for that lit test."
Buffy's face fell as Dawn looked at Willow and whined in her very
best voice, "But moooom."