My Human Side: Fear
by Cheza
The next few days passed in a blur of familar routine. The girls woke up around eight or nine, ate breakfast, trained with weapons, trained with magick, ate lunch, had a few hours of free time, trained some more, studied, ate dinner, and then were free for the night. Molly complained over the schedule, much prefering just to do whatever she felt like. Kaeleigh and Kennedy were personally glad for the order of routine- no need to think beyond do what your told. The two girls had become slightly closer friends with each other than they had with the other two potentials, but Kae was to much of a loner to get to close.

And so, amazingly, two whole days passed with nothing more eventful than Dawn's burning of her pancakes, which filled the house with thick smoke for hours. Spike continued to stay beside Kaeleigh during the night, although neither of them spoke of it. It had just become an understood agreement. She didn't like to think of the Vampire as a friend, because he wasn't. She knew he wasn't more, either. They talked occasionally, and when Spike spoke of Buffy she knew he was in love. Even so, she hated wretching her eyes off his perfectly formed body and excuised face to go to sleep. She pretened like she barley noticed him, and he pretened not to know better. He belonged to another woman, albeit one who didn't want him, and whats more, he was a vampire, albeit with a soul. Not to mention the fact that he was way older and obviously not interested in her.

Spike himself often thought similar thoughts of Kaeleigh. He supposed that he stayed beside her at night, not for her sake, but for his own. It was nice, to feel like someone needed you. It made him feel good to be someone's protecter, even if Kae would never admit it. He felt her eyes linger on him, and he thought of Buffy. She'd never looked at him that way. In a way of adoration mixed with want, and the knowlage that she would never have him. He wondered why it affected him so much, made him tense his muscles when she brushed against him on the sofa, or cock his head in a certain light when they spoke. He knew he was showing off. He was damn good looking, and he was well aware of it. He didn't know why he encouraged her little crush, or why he pretened like he didn't notice it. Watching her sleep one night, he realized, it was because the way she looked at him was very near the way he looked at Buffy.

The calm was not meant to last though. Three day's from the girls arrival, Buffy came home beaten and bloodied. The girls learned of a whole new thing to be feared- an ancient vampire called the Turok-han. Buffy assured the girls that they would be safe, and Kae wanted to beilive her, but found it hard to. Its hard to convince other that you'll protect them if you can barley stand. Kaeleigh knew she could run. She didn't really know where she could go, but she knew she could run. She looked around the room. She didn't know the Slayer at all, and she doubted that Buffy even remebered her name. But still, she respected the dimunitive woman. Xander and Willow were older, in Buffy's bracket of command, and except for Kennedy, tended to keep to themselves and not spend much time with the potentials. Mr. Giles was sort of the patriarch of their strange family, a calming and reasuring presence in the chaos. Annabelle and Molly would never make it without Kae and Kennedy looking out for them. Kaeleigh looked at Kennedy. They'd had their tuffs, both being stubborn and strong willed, but had become better friends for it. Dawn, the Slayer's sister, stood close to Spike. Kae felt and unexpected rush of jelousy, but it subsided when Spike simply patted the younger girl on her arm and walked back downstairs. Spike, ofcourse, was a big part of why she felt she couldn't run away.

Aparantly, though Kaeleigh couldn't run, Annabelle could. Annabelle ran, the Slayer followed, and the Turok-han got there first. Buffy looked tired and worn down, emotionally drained, when she returned with the news. Spike had come back upstairs, and moved as if to comfort her, but she sent him a death-glare that broke his heart. Watching it made Kaeleigh feel as though hers had, too. Molly was sobbing, colapsed against a wall. Kennedy and Willow were speaking in hushed tones, both looking hollow eyed. Xander was already getting to work, hauling boards and boxes of nails from the basement up to cover the window and reinforce the doors. Mr. Giles had noticed Molly's state and swept in to comfort her. Kaeleigh went over to them and layed her hand on Molly's forehead. Speaking quietly, she said a few words in Latin and Molly slumped, deeply asleep. Giles opened his mouth to chastise her, closed it as he watched Molly sleep peacefully, then opened it again. "Do be careful with your magicks, Kaeleigh. I know your only a low level, and your spells harmless, but its a very dangers thing to prosue." With that, he glanced at Willow, and walked away.

That night, by unspoken consent, everyone found a place to sleep together in the living room. It wasn't the first death they had faced, nor would it be the last, but it had done just what the Turok-han had wanted- they were all very much afraid. The Slayer elected to stay in her own room, and Spike stayed downstairs. Kae was suprised at how much she missed having him beside her. His body gave off no heat, his heart did not give a comforting pulse, and they really didn't talk much. Yet, although Molly was curled beside her, she felt the absense of his presense weighing on her. She slept fitfully, in bits and peices, and was glad to see the sun rise through the gaps in the boarded up window.

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