Part 5

Part 5

"So they are staying at the Alien Encounter Hotel?" Nessido said when everyone was back as the house.

"Yes." Isabel nodded and gave him the slip of paper.

"Oh. While you were gone I checked in with Clean Slate." The aliens gulped. Just the name of the evil government program gave them chills. They had to remind themselves that Nessido had taken up the dead Agent Pearce's identity so he could protect them from inside.

"That's kind of like the Initiative right?" Buffy whispered to Michael. She had told him about it over their bonding partnership. He nodded slightly.

"Tomorrow can you go stake out the hotel?" Nessido asked Buffy. "I'd send the others but the aliens can sense them. We need the advantage. Sheriff can you keep an eye on the UFO center? And when you find out they are coming into town ask if they need help. Everyone else stay here and stay together. It's important that you keep a low profile until we attack at the concert. Which I will get tickets to."

"You mean I have to stay here with her?" Max pointed at Tess. She gave him a pained expression.

"Max we can't do this now. Trust me you have to endure and bond. It's the only way." Buffy told him. "Do you mind if I call home? My mom's probably worrying about me?" She added.

"Sure." Max lead Buffy to the phone in the kitchen. "I swear I don't like her! She puts spells on me." Max complained.

"Get over it Maxy." Buffy gave him a pat on the shoulder and turned him back to the living room. "Hey mom." Buffy said when the phone was picked up.

"Hi honey." Her mom said in a worried tone.

"It's ok mom. I made it her fine and we are dealing with Max's er problem."

"Anything I can help with?"

"I don't think so. I'll be home as soon as possible."

"Ok well Riley is here. He wants to say hi. He stopped by to see you. I'll put him on."

"Hi Buffy." Riley said.

"Hey sweetie. Keeping the demons under control?"

"Well it's been an uneventful day. Willow and I are going patrolling soon so I can't talk much longer. Can I have your number so I can call you tomorrow?"

"Sure. It's 617-767-9355. Bye hun." Buffy hung up the phone and entered the living room. Funny, she didn't miss Riley as much as she thought she would, still it hadn't even been a full day yet.

"Since it seems that the 4 of us are gonna be cramped her no use in making you stay here. Do you wanna use my apartment tonight?" Michael offered Buffy.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Michael tossed her the keys.

"Do you want the jeep?" Max added.

"Well I'm an avid pedestrian." Buffy shrugged kind of embarrassed her younger cousin Max could drive and she couldn't. He wasn't that much younger. He had just turned 17 in March. And she was only newly 19."

"I'll drive you." Valenti offered. "Shouldn't be out walking alone this late."

"Thanks." The got into the car and drove.

"So you are a vampire Slayer?" He said. "What is that exactly?"

"It's a chosen girl who keeps the balance of good and evil." Buffy shrugged. "And I was the chosen one for my generation. It's hard to believe I know. Especially the part of my town Sunnydale being a hellmouth."

"Well I'm starting to see there is more out there than just humans and animals." Valenti agreed. "Here we are."

"See you tomorrow." Buffy jumped out of the car and entered the apartment building. She looked at the key and saw which room she was in. "This is to much like Oz's old place.""Damn I left my suitcase at the house." She slapped her forehead. "Michael won't mind if I borrow some stuff." Buffy said wrinkling her nose at the dingy apartment.

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"Tess you can sleep in my room. I hope you don't mind a sleeping bag?" Isabel said heading upstairs.

"Nope. These were Nessido's orders."

"Michael you know where the your sleeping bag is." Max said yawning wearily. It had been quite a day and his emotions had run a marathon. Then a smile crossed his lips. "You and Buffy?" He looked at Michael.

"Purely platonic." Michael assured him. Although he was hurting and he could see she was hurting too. "Night Maxwell." Michael grinned.

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