"Would you quit doing that?!" FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth said in frustration looking at his partner over the rims of his sunglasses. Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Temperance Brennan gave her partner a grin and shook her head, her brown ponytail swishing back and forth, amusement lit her bright blue eyes. He pushed the sunglasses back into place and parked the car beside their favorite diner. Brennan slammed her own door, jogging to keep up with him as he stalked across the parking lot.

"Are you really mad? I'm just impressed, that's all. You figured it out before any of the team had a chance to do a real examination." She said catching her breath as she walked through the door he held for her.

"I'm not mad. I'm irritated that you announced to the lab that I solved the case – like it's some big deal. That's my job, it's what I do! It's not like I'm just there to drive you around and flash a badge while you solve the crimes." He slid into a booth, her sitting across from him, and regretted his angry words as her face fell.

"I know that Booth! I was just impressed how quickly you figured it out."

He wiped a hand through his close-cropped dark hair and looked at the hurt expression on his partner's face. "Look Bones, my ego is a little bruised, but it's survived worse, let's just drop it, alright?" He said using the nickname he'd given her. She smiled tentatively at him knowing with the use of her nickname, he had called a truce. His dark eyes studied her relieved expression for a moment before dropping back to the coffee the waitress had set in front of him. It was more than his training at the FBI that made him understand her so well. His partner was the best in her field when communicating with skeletons, but communicating with the living was difficult for her. Their two year partnership had started to melt her somewhat frosty exterior, and although she was becoming more comfortable when dealing with people, he realized she still had some work to do on her tact.

"A large ego is a typical characteristic of a dominate alpha-male…." She started in her typical way of trying to get the conversation back on familiar ground; he shot her a glowering look. "But, I really was impressed."

"I get that you were impressed, and I was OK when you told Cam, she was standing right there, but the annoyance factor greatly increased when you told Angela and Hodgins, went and found Zack so you could tell him, and then all the comments in the car 'Wow!,' 'That was so fast!' - you get my meaning?" He asked. She looked slightly chagrined and studied her menu. After a brief silence, Brennan spoke again.

"Have you seen a case like that before? You seemed to know exactly what to look for." She glanced up at him.

"I have seen something similar." He answered vaguely, without looking up.

"Oh. Similar in that there were marks that resembled a 'vampire bite' or in that there were marks that were proven to be a 'vampire bite'" She asked using her fingers to make invisible quotation marks.

He tore his gaze from the menu to gage the seriousness of her question, and was relieved to see a hint of a smile play across her lips.

"I was joking! You know that stuff isn't real."

"There are people out there who believe in vampires." He replied looking back at the menu.

She narrowed her eyes, wondering if he was attempting to bate her into an argument. "There is no way a body could continue to function on a diet of blood, or without a working heart to pump blood through the body, and what is it with not having a reflection, or the bursting into flames in the sunlight." She looked at the smirk on his face and shook her head. "I can't believe that we are having this conversation."

"There are things in this world that can't be explained with science, you can't deny that." He paused before continuing. "You seem to know a lot about it, for someone who doesn't believe in it, I mean." He teased her.

"I've read my fair share of science fiction books. Just because there are things that can't be explained doesn't mean that we need to jump to impossible conclusions to explain them – we can find the answers if we look hard enough." She shot back.

He sighed, "I can't believe we are having this conversation, either."

--

"Giles! I had a dream." The petite blond said, announcing her presence to the distinguished looking gentleman sitting behind a desk cluttered with books and various papers. Buffy Summers had entered his office in a whirlwind that was typical of her. Buffy was the Vampire Slayer, the one girl in all the world destined to rid the world of demons and vampires. And Giles was her Watcher. He had been with the young woman for nearly 15 years, and while he was to watch, guide, and help her with her destiny, he was also her mentor and a father figure of sorts. Through an odd twist of fate, she was no longer the only Slayer, and had started delegating some of her duties to the others. The benefit of having other Slayers was not having to do all of the actual slaying herself. She still went out into the field, enjoying the challenge of the fight.

"A dream? That hardly seems important enough to barge into my study disrupting my work." He answered, taking a moment to wipe his glasses and replace them again, looking, Buffy thought, extremely British – a good thing because he was.

She rolled her eyes at him, "You've been reading the competition's book on demonology," she said pointing to the book on his lap, "your's is much better, that's why the watchers council is using your copy."

"Yes, well..." He said looking slightly embarrassed

"Besides, not just any dream, a prophetic one." She said looking grim.

"Really? How do you know?" He questioned

"They're my dreams Giles, I know the difference." She answered, tilting her head in annoyance.

"But it has been a while, since you've had one…..

"I hadn't missed them either." She interrupted with a sigh.

"Well, what did it show you?"

"There were a bunch of green scaly monsters with claws coming out of a portal. They seemed to be in some sort of formation…."

"An army of some sort…..?"

"That's what I was thinking……and they were located on top of a highrise building."

"That's it?"

"Oh, it was either at sunrise or sunset, I'm not sure."

"So what we have is an army of green demons coming out of a portal on a roof at sunrise or sunset." Giles furrowed his brow. "That's not much to go on we need to narrow down what city, and if it is even in this time period……"

"Oh, I almost forgot, in the distance, I could make out a tall skinny building that was having some work done to the outside."

"Tall skinny building, being renovated….that will narrow it down some….."

"Isn't the Washington monument having some work done to its exterior?"

Giles blinked in surprise, "Why, yes Buffy, I do believe it is. Is that the building you saw?"

"You don't have to look so shocked – it's a national monument, in THIS nation – besides there was a story about the renovation on the news."

"The news?"

"I watch the news….." Giles looked skeptical "Ok, fine, I was walking through the living room and it was on. Get a bag together, looks like we are going to the nation's capitol. Have you ever been there before?"

"No, I haven't."

"Well, looks like we get to do a little sightseeing and demonfighting all in the same trip – a two-for-one." Buffy replied, bouncing out of the room.

--

"We have some time before the portal opens, Giles." Buffy said pointing at the Washington monument from the balcony of their hotel room.

"How do you know?" He asked coming out of the balcony.

"In my dream the work was farther up the monument than it is now." She replied.

She turned to look at Giles who was stifling a yawn. "Let's start our search for the mystery building tomorrow. I say lets get something to eat and hit the sac – jet lag is setting in."

The two decided on a restaurant an easy walk from the hotel that had street-side dining. Both of them were interested in people watching, but for different reasons – Giles liked to observe the culture of the area, while Buffy enjoyed poking fun at the different fashions that were paraded around the city.

"This has definitely been an enlightening dinner, I can't believe some of the clothes people let their friends wear in public – there should be some type of clothes security installed in everyone's house – if the alarms go off, go back in and try again."

Giles shook his head and finished his tea. He was exhausted and was ready for bed. They paid their bill and started walking back toward the hotel. As they waited for their turn at a crosswalk, Buffy glanced across the street at a brightly lit up corner diner. A couple emerged, the man holding the door for the woman, he laughed at something and she crossed her arms in indignation. He gave her shoulders a quick squeeze and she smiled dropping her arms. As they passed a light from one of the storefronts, Buffy was able to see the man's profile – her heart almost stopped for a moment. The strong jaw, the broad shoulders, even his walk was the same as someone she'd long ago buried and mourned. As the pair rounded the corner, Giles pulled on her sleeve.

"Buffy, the light has turned." Giles said, pulling her along. "Is everything alright?"

"Did you see that couple across the street?" She asked anxiously.

"No, why?"

"No reason." She sighed looking over her shoulder one last time.

--

"You know, there is something I've been meaning to ask you?" Brennan commented.

The two emerged from the diner after a quick dinner – they had been working late and both agreed it was easier to grab a quick bite than try to go home and cook. It had been a casual meeting – both of them were in jeans which lent to the more relaxed atmosphere between them.

"Oh no, now what?" He said teasingly.

Brennan crossed her arms and turned on him as he opened the door for her. He couldn't help but laugh at her indignant expression. As hard as she tried, a real smile from Booth never failed to be contagious. He gave her shoulders a brief squeeze as they headed down the street toward their cars.

"I was just going to ask what the tattoos on your wrists were – we've worked together for over two years and I've never asked but have been curious." She said pointing to the black symbols inked into his skin at his wrists. He looked down at them and his expression quickly became solemn.

"They're nothing really, just something I did when I was younger." He replied.

"That's it, that's all I'm going to get?"

"Well, what did you want, some big story – I can make one up if you want."

"No! They're symbols, what do they mean." She said, trying to lead him on.

"I got them when I was younger….." He started.

"When you were in the army?"

"Before."

"Because it meant something or was it spontaneous?"

"It was spontaneous."

"Does it mean anything?" She asked again.

He hesitated before answering. "It's a symbol for protection."

"Oh." Was all she could think of to say. She glanced at him and noticed his intense gaze. After a moment he realized she was watching him and gave a half smile.

"Why, are you thinking of getting a tattoo?"

Knowing she wanted to make the moment less awkward, but not knowing really how to, she did the best she could "Maybe, what do you think I should get?" she tried.

"It'll come to you." He answered reassuringly.

--

A few hours later, Buffy lay in her dark hotel room tossing and turning. She couldn't shake the image of the man she'd seen earlier. He'd looked so familiar – if she didn't know better, she would've sworn it was Angel. Angel had been her first love, the first man she'd ever given her heart to - only he hadn't been a man, he was a vampire. Memories of the past flooded her brain and she was powerless to stop them. Love between a vampire and a Slayer should have never been able to happen, but because he had been cursed with his soul and was able to control the demon within, she had been naïve enough to think their love could make it though anything. Vampires do not came ready-made with souls, Angel had been cursed by Gypsies who were angry at the death of their princess. Cursed with his soul as punishment, he existed tortured by feelings of remorse for all of the lives he had taken and all of the terrible deeds he had done. Along with his soul came the catch that if he ever had a moment of true happiness, he would lose his soul and become the evil vampire he had been before – Angelus. Angel had been fighting the good fight, trying to redeem himself for all of Angelus's past wrongs, but in a moment of weakness, he lost his soul when he and Buffy gave in to their feelings for one another and made love. Angelus reigned terror and death on Buffy and her friends before they were able to stop him. Buffy's friends were able to restore his soul, but not before Buffy was forced to send him to a hell deminsion in order to save the world Angelus had been bent on destroying. She mourned his death only to have him sent back to her by some evil power trying to kill her. Eventually Angel decided it would be better for her if he left town – realizing he was a liability to her and could get her killed. Neither wanted it, but both realized they could never be together. Angel moved to L.A. to fight demons and protect the innocent, once again trying for redemption.

Buffy had last seen Angel in a dream. The dream had been one of the most horrible moments of her life. She watched as an army of demons fought and overpowered Angel, Spike, and two of his friends. Buffy remembered how she awoke crying, driving like a mad woman to the alley where the battle had taken place. There was nothing left alive when she arrived, the battle was over. She looked at the body parts that lay strewn about, noting the young black man and the blue-haired goddess that worked with Angel. Her eyes registered the two large spots of dust before her brain did. When her brain finally caught up, she gasped for breath – unable to breathe – and buried her face in her hands and sobbed. They were gone.

Spike. Buffy rolled over again. She hadn't meant to think about him, too. Buffy had HATED Spike – with a passion. He had hated her with a passion, too. That is what the two of them shared – passion – and mostly unhealthy. Spike was also a vampire – he and Angelus had traveled most of Europe killing and burning everything in sight before Angelus had been cursed. Spike had earned a reputation for killing Slayers and was intent on Buffy being the next notch on his belt. By the time Spike finally caught up with Buffy, Angel was souled and acting guardian. He didn't get another chance at her until Angel lost his soul, and by then Angelus was so reckless, the two called a truce and agreed to help each other stop him from destroying the world. Buffy remembered the years she spent trying to kill him and somehow the two eluded death at each other's hands. Luck had been on her side when he had been captured and fitted with a chip that prevented him from killing anything living. With the chip keeping Spike in check, Buffy was able to be more comfortable around him, and she began to rely on him for information and his strength in tough battles. Somewhere along the way he fell in love with her, and during a rough time in her life, he seemed to be the only one who understood and she let him comfort her. Comfort eventually turned in to something more– she used him as a distraction from dealing with her own life; he knew it, but he cared about her and let her use him anyway. Buffy was disgusted with herself and her relationship with Spike – her disgust and abuse of him pushing him to the point where he attacked her. Hating what he had done, he left town to find the one thing he felt would make her accept him – a soul. He was granted his wish but he came back to her, crazy with guilt for his past and in need of her help. Realizing what he had done to himself for her, she worked to bring his sanity back, and although she new he still loved her, she was never brave enough to admit he had won her love in return. It wasn't until, in his last selfless act, that she was able to admit it – but he hadn't believed her. It crushed her that he had died thinking she was insincere – he had deserved more from her than that. His death had devastated her.

Buffy thought of the two men she had loved and how she had mourned both of them TWICE! Angel had been tall, dark, and more serious, Spike had been shorter, blond, and mouthy. Where Angel had been more careful and calculating about his actions, Spike was more often than not like a hot wire, slightly unpredictable. No two people could have been more different, and she had loved them both. Buffy sighed and rolled over punching her pillow trying to push those unsettling thoughts from her head, she needed to be rested and focused for her search tomorrow.

--

"Giles, I'm beat, and hungry," Buffy stopped to rub her ankle, "and I think I'm getting a blister." Speaking into her cell phone. She looked up at the deserted office building in front of her. "I'm going to check this last one out and then I'm heading back to the hotel for a steak dinner."

Buffy started up the stairs, the elevators obviously were no longer working, groaning about her aching feet. Buffy peeked out onto a couple of floors – they were empty, a few had lonely desks or scraps of papers – but continued up to the top floor to see if its views matched the one in her dreams. As she neared the roof, she moved with more care, keeping a lookout for anything out of the ordinary. Once she gained access to the roof, she took inventory of her surroundings, noting the few barrels and a couple of piles of broken lumber scattered around. The closest building was a few stories taller and its upper levels were open, due to the unfinished construction. Buffy looked toward the Washington monument, gauging the distance, and satisfied that this was the building, turned to head back down the stairs, when some movement to her right caught her eye. She turned toward one of the piles of lumber as something large, green, and scaly launched itself at her over the top of the lumber pile. It landed on top of her and knocked her down, clawing at her throat – she held him off the best she could and with a hard kick, set him somersaulting over her head. She got to her feet quickly and pulled out a stake – she always had one with her – the beast looked at the stake and grinned – or at least she thought that was the general expression the demon was trying to convey – as three razor sharp blades extended from each hand.

"That's all you got?" She challenged.

The animal roared in reply and charged her again, clawing trying to cut her to shreds. She ducked the first swipe and with him off balance, was able to kick his feet out from him. He landed with a thud and twisted to the side trying to take out her legs. She jumped over him and kicked him in the kidney – or where she thought his kidney should be. The monster growled in anger, whirling back at her – with him still down she drove the stake into his neck. Buffy miscalculated where his claws were and he swiped her arm drawing blood. Angry now, she hiked back her foot and jammed the stake in deeper, he growled in pain and convulsed a few time before he quit moving altogether. Buffy stood back, surveying her work and catching her breath. She wiped the sweat from her eyes and looked down at her wounded arm. It was dripping blood, but wasn't too serious – her Slayer allowed her to heal quicker than normal. She looked at the beast one more time and headed off the roof.