A/N: the plot bunny for this wouldn't cease in it's attacks so I wrote this. Characters belong to their creators. "House" and other related entities are owned, (TM) and © by HEEL AND TOE FILMS and BAD HAT HARRY PRODUCTIONS in association with NBC UNIVERSAL TELEVISION. All Rights Reserved. "Buffy" was created by Joss Whedon and belongs to him, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Television, Kuzui Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Television and the WB Television Network.

Chapter 31

He found her on the roof, it seemed like he always found her, often when she wouldn't have minded him to. She wondered what he had been like before she came, since everyone said he had changed. He was a snarky man, she could just picture him terrorizing the patients and Cuddy. The thought made her smile.

"Your charge is being released." He spoke, watching her still form as he limped up beside her. It had been less than a week since Lauren had woken and begun to heal, so he had no medical reason to keep her any longer. Buffy had spoken to her father, he'd begun treatment with Wilson and now it was time that she and Dawn return to England to assist with the newest big bad. House still had questions, many of them in fact but Buffy had never really answered any he posed to her before. "How is she healing so fast?" He threw at her, hoping to startle her into answering but she only smiled some more.

"I know you have a lot of questions about me," Buffy stated. Her hands were in her jeans pockets, her gaze never left the view of the nearby buildings. "I also know that if you wanted, you could have followed me or tried harder to figure them out. Yet you haven't."

House looked out upon the grounds below, then reached into his jacket and popped a Vicodin. Her hand shot out quicker than he would have believed possible and grabbed the bottle from him. He scowled but wasn't going to resort to childishly trying to grab it back, watching as she read the label.

"Does it always hurt?" She asked softly, returning his property to him.

"Yes."

Buffy let her mind wander, wondering at her life that was so now much different from the Hellmouth. Things had changed, she had changed. She had a wider view on life it felt like, and on people. She thought back to an hour before when she'd received a call from Giles:

"Hello Buffy? It's Giles. I'm afraid I have some rather worrying news.

According to my research there's to be a demon trying to raise Kolothukai, a pagan god.

Anyway, it's a little too tough for the girls and I would appreciate it if you and Dawn could catch a flight here.

Lauren can come if she is willing, it would be a chance for her to meet the other girls. Please let me know."

Buffy hated Apocalypse season.

It was yet another reminder that she could not escape her calling, no matter that she had made friends in the hospital and had House's company to enjoy. She wasn't concerned about this latest end-the-world mission, she had averted far too many in her time to be concerned. But ever since that moment, that horrible moment in the battle with the First as she watched her girls fall, she took time to appreciate the world. Just in case...

"Why don't you just tell me then?" House broke the silence, going back to their earlier discussion. Buffy laughed, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

"Now what would be the fun in that?" She smiled at him and he grudgingly returned it. "I have to go somewhere for a while, I'm needed at home." She seemed to be searching for something in him so he shrugged, "I've got cases, if I could sneak off I would too."

Buffy nodded, satisfied. Whatever answer she had been looking for, she found. "When I return, we'll sit and I'll tell you what you want to know. Deal?"

"How badly will I get hurt if I try to find out again?"

"Limbs. The coming off kind of way."

"Right, later it is."

Buffy laughed again, "I should get going, there's a flight in two hours with my name on it." Buffy didn't budge though, just looked at House, taking in everything. She was surprised to find that she would miss him very much, and hoped there would be a later. If there was anything Sunnydale and being the Slayer had taught her, it was that she wasn't invincible. He held her gaze, waiting until she was done before he nonchalantly brushed a kiss over her mouth. A moment later his pager went off and they groaned in unison.

Buffy cleared her throat and walked slightly ahead of him to the roof stairs then turned back as a thought occurred to her. "House? I have a b teeeeensy /b favor..."

Two hours later:

House glanced down at the little furball who had taken up residence on his yellow chair. The cat seemed to sense that it was Buffy's favorite and had immediately claimed it as his. House sighed and scratched the cat lightly behind the ears on the way out the door, hoping Buffy returned soon.

A/N: I promise there will be a sequel if any are interested, but I felt bad for leaving this wide open. I hope this was a good enough end. Thank you for all the reviews, recommendations and support, it was awesome! Let me know in a review if there should be a sequel!