Angel, Lorne, Kathy and Buffy were sitting round later, discussing the options. They were still waiting for Mel to come up with the criminal records from the police. In the mean time they were discussing theories.

Lorne kept a close eye on Buffy. After what she had learnt today it was possible she could relapse at any moment.

She was proving him wrong though. Although Lorne didn’t know Buffy he was extremely proud of her. She had endured hell, even without her time in the mental hospital, and yet she was coping. No doubt she would need some serious therapy but that was understandable.

They were interrupted by the doorbell. “Who’s that?” asked Lorne.

Angel switched the TV on and pressed a button. A video image of Dr Lansing appeared.

Buffy began to shiver.

Angel turned to her. “Go upstairs, get in bed and look like your sleeping, got it?” Buffy nodded. “Kathy, go with her and look like you’re on watch.”

Both women left the room.

Angel shared a look with Lorne. “I don’t know about you but I’ve been dieing for a talk with the good doctor.”

Lorne placed a restraining hand on his arm. “Be calm. We have no proof yet. Let me handle it, we’ll see if he can’t dig his own grave for us.”

Angel nodded. But resisting the urge to hit him would be hard.

Angel answered the door.

“Mr O’Connor, I’m sorry to disturb you, I was simply worried about Buffy. Is she OK?”

“Her new doctor is here now. Why don’t you ask him?” He said gesturing for him to enter. Angel let him through to Lorne who was sitting at the kitchen table, going through Buffy’s notes from Sunny Hill.

Lorne looked up as they entered and Angel introduced them.

Lorne shook his hand. “It’s good to finally meet you doctor. After reading this file I feel like I already know you.”

The Doctor looked uncomfortable. “Thank you. I just came to see how Buffy was.”

“Stable. That’s about all we can say. But I’m glad you’re here, there are a few things I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Really? What?”

Lorne sat down and gestured for the doctor to do the same. He glanced towards the hidden tape recorder to make sure it still wasn’t visable. Angel watched them both from the doorway.

“Firstly these lacerations that were on Buffy’s back when she was admitted.” Lorne began. “I know it wasn’t to your clinic but I was hoping you would have an idea as to what caused them.”

“They were nearly healed when she was first admitted, old wounds. And no she never told me what had caused them, other than vampires.”

“Umm, OK.” Lorne looked over his notepad. “During your therapy, did you ever formulate any theories as to why Buffy was creating this internal world?”

“Nothing concrete. It’s my opinion though that she just wasn’t built to withstand life. We have a few cases like that, they don’t have the stability to live life. Some commit suicide, others have various mental disorders. This was Buffy’s way of coping.”

“What led you to that conclusion?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t see the relevance of this questioning.” Said the doctor harshly.

Lorne looked hurt. “I’m sorry doctor. I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that you’ve been her primary carer for almost seven years when I’ve been it for a day, I just wanted your insights.”

The doctor looked relived. “No, I’m the one who should apologise. I reached that conclusion for two reasons. One, her symptoms didn’t seem to have a cause and two, teenage years are when these types of problems normally set in.”

Lorne nodded. “I agree. Now, you were her primary carer but Dr…” he looked over to his notes again “Hooper was the consultant over seeing her care, yes?”

“That’s right, he’s my superior.”

“But he wasn’t directly involved in treatment decisions?”

“Not unless I asked him to be.”

“OK, Well thank you Doctor. You’ve been a big help.”

“That’s quite alright.” He paused briefly. “Um, may I see her?”

“Buffy?” asked Lorne.

“Yes, just to check she’s OK. You know.”

“I don’t see why not. But there hasn’t been any change, it hardly seems worth it.”

“Still, I’d like to look in on her.”

“OK.” Lorne stood up and led the way.

The door to Buffy’s room was open, Buffy lay in bed, facing away from the door, Kathy was sitting under the window, reading. She stood up and went to see them at the door.

“How is she?” asked Lorne.

“The same, she hasn’t moved since I dressed her.”

Dr Lansing approached the bed. “Buffy. It’s Dr Lansing. I just came to check you were OK.”

Buffy remained still. So the doctor turned back to them. “You will let me know wont you, if there’s any progress?”

“Rest assured you’ll be the first to know.”

The doctor cast one last look at Buffy then left, thanking them for their time.


Once the doctor had gone Angel went over to Buffy.

“It’s OK, he’s gone.”

“Thank god.” She said in a small voice.

“Do you remember what he did to you? Why you fear him?”

Buffy sat up in bed. “I’m not sure. It’s hard to distinguish between fact and fiction these last few years. But I have these dreams where he’s whispering to me. Whispering things I don’t like. I can’t make out what he’s saying but I know it’s bad. He wants to hurt me or take someone from me.”

Lorne listened from the doorway, thinking.