"...He What?!"

"She tried to get him to stay and wait for you and he, um, pushed her, out of the way."

"I don't believe this."

"Believe it, Buffy. He had this maddening look in his eye. He threw her to the ground and headed out after you. There was no stopping him."

"Why didn't she tell me? Was she hurt?"

"I don't believe so. I really didn't see it coming, otherwise I would have kept her away from him."

"I didn't see it coming either, Giles. He's not the guy I thought he was, not if he could do this."

She appeared thoughtful for a moment then headed towards the door.

"Buffy, where are you going?"

"To fix things."

"It's really not wise to go near him right now. We don't know how stable he is."

"I wasn't talking about Riley, Giles." She gave him a sad smile and was out the door.

"Hey."

She turned around startled. "Oh, hey Buffy." She turned back to the dresser and pulled out a pair of pajamas. "How was patrol?"

She crossed the room and sat on Willow's bed. "Alright. I really didn't have my heart in it tonight. I did a quick sweep of the grounds on campus and came back. All is quiet on the home front."

"That's good. No vampires means good vampires.. not that vampires can be good ...well, except for Angel, but he's different, and...never mind. Tired plus brain activity equals babble-mode." She turned her back to Buffy and pulled her shirt over her head. She flinched a little and Buffy caught it.

"Will, what's wrong? You never flinch...flinching is a Slayer activity." She got to her feet and moved next to her.

Willow turned. "Nothing...I must have pulled a muscle or something, that's all." She smiled hoping to drop the subject.

"Doing what? Surfing the web? Lemme see.. " Buffy reached out but Willow took two steps backwards.

"I'm fine, really. It's not a big deal." <Gee, your boyfriend threw me to the floor like a sack of potatoes, but still, it's no biggie.> She gave Buffy her best 'please-drop-it' look but could tell it wasn't working.

"Will."

"I'm fine."

"Your mouth tells me your fine but your body is telling a different story." She reached out again and wasn't met with resistance this time.

Willow turned around willingly and allowed Buffy to examine her. Upon closer inspection, Buffy found a big purple bruise from her shoulder to her elbow and her elbow was swollen. "Oh, Will."

"Don't make a big deal out of it...please?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I'm a klutz...I wasn't paying attention and I slipped getting out of the shower. I really need to..."

"You really need to stop covering for Riley. I know he did this."

"Oh....how did you?...Giles."

"I went to see him before patrol. That's a nasty bruise and you don't have Slayer healing so you're gonna be sore for a while. Put your shirt on and I'll get you an ice pack."

Before she could protest, Buffy was out the door headed for the nearest ice machine. Did the dorms even have ice machines? She didn't even think of that so the next best thing would have to be the soda machine.

She had enough change in her pockets for three cans of soda and threw in a pack of chocolate donuts for good measure.

"Late night?"

She froze at the sound of his voice. "Riley. I don't have time to talk." She tried to walk around him but he darted into her path.

"Just give me a minute to explain..."

"Explain what? How your precious Professor Frankenstein didn't try to have me killed? Or how about how you pushed Willow out of your way and hurt her? Bad. That's what the soda's for...to bring down the swelling you caused. So which part would you like to explain?"

"Buffy... I was on my way to talk to Willow, to apologize. I was off my vitamins, that's why I acted the way I did. I didn't know what they were feeding me. You have to believe me."

"I don't have to do anything...and don't bother apologizing to Willow. She'd forgive you in an instant, that's the kind of person she is... and I don't think you deserve that right now."

"Buffy, give me another chance, please."

"I trusted you...I tried to convince my friends to trust you. At the first sign that the Initiative might not be what it appears to be you go all commando on my best friend when she was only trying to help you. Look, just forget it. I have to get back."

He tried again to step in front of her and receive a swift punch in the gut complimented with the soda can exploding upon impact. She stepped over him and didn't look back. "You owe me a soda."

She quietly slipped back into the dorm room. Most of the lights were off and Willow was laying across her bed listening to the stereo.

Buffy crossed the room and sat down next to her. "You okay, Will?"

"I'm okay. What'cha got there? Do I see donuts?" She offered a weak smile.

"You only listen to the Counting Crows when something's bothering you, so spill." Buffy offered the soda and donuts to her. "It's for your elbow... Apparently our dorms don't have ice machines. I'm sure you can figure out a use for the donuts."

Willow smiled and placed the can on her arm. She winced a little but finally found a comfortable position. "So what have you been up to lately?"

"Nothing much, really. School work, patrolling.. you know, plunge and move on plunge and move on."

"Riley? You