Dragonfly

I know many of you are looking to see Bittersweet updated but it seems that my Spuffy muse has decieded to take a bit of a vaction with out warning me. So I apologize, I do have the next 3 to 5 chapters already mapped out but I just can't seem to get the actually story down, everything I write I delete.

Anyway since I've been so out of it I've been watching re-runs of BtVS there have just been a few ideas that just wouldn't leave me alone and this is one of them. I hope to update my other fics in the near future but for now I hope you guys can enjoy my new obsessions. I also have a Buffy/Xander fic in the works called 'This Time Around' that has my attention.

This is my FIRST Buffy/Riley fic so I beg you to be kind and let me know what you think...


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Title: Dragonfly

Author: Tygerlily

Email: Angelusblood@yahoo.com

Rating: Pg (eventually R to Nc-17)

Summary: The army wants Riley back but he's not the only one they want

Category: Romance/Angst/Action-Adventure

Pairing: Buffy/Riley Buffy/Graham (Friendship)

Spoilers: Everything up to 'Into the Woods'

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me, if they did Riley wouldn't have come back married in S6

Distribution: My group and site, anyone else…Want, Take, Have Just let me know

Author Note I: This is my very first Buffy/Riley fic, so I beg you to bear with me. If Riley is out of character at all please let me know. In all my other fics, he's either only mentioned or makes a brief appearance.

Author Note II: Joyce is not ill and there is no Dawn or Glorificus

Author Note III: Much of the dialogue in this chapter was taken directly from the episode ‘Into the Woods’. Also I’m going to mess around with the timeline in the episode also to fit my story.

Fanfiction by Tygerlily: a group for early updates on my fics and website

http://www.geocities.com/angelusblood/

Call of the Slayer: my Fanfiction website

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FanFictions_by_Tygerlily/
Chapter One
# # # # #

It’s almost three in the morning and Riley Finn walks into his apartment feeling totally and utterly defeated. He knew that eventually the dangerous pastime he’d been indulging in would come back to bite him…no pun intended. At that moment all he wanted to do was kick off his boots and fall into bed and never get up again. The former solider walked over to the lamp and flipped it on.
As he glanced up into the mirror he sighed heavily at the sight of the reflections he saw there. The sight of Graham and Ellis made Riley even more frustrated than before. He already had a good idea as to what they’re doing there but he also really didn’t want to hear it.
“Get Out”
Ellis steps forward hoping to plead his case to the former Initiative solider. He knows that ever since Riley ran into the Slayer he’s changed but from what he’s heard and seen, he knew that this man was a good solider and the army needed him.
“I need to talk to you”
Riley inhaled sharply; he couldn’t believe that these guys were still at it. All he wanted to do was live his life and be there for Buffy. Even though he and Buffy had hit a bit of a rough patch, he truly believed that they could work through it. Finally he turned to face them his eyes a blaze.
“I’m not in a talkin’ mood”
“Then listen” Ellis walked slowly toward him with Graham following right behind. Ellis specifically brought Graham with him hoping that a former friend and confidant and fellow solider would help sway him back into the service.
“Riley, just give the man a chance. You don't like what you hear, we'll be on our way” his former friend implored.
“Talk fast” Riley said clearly irritated.
Ellis knew that he only had one chance at this and that he had to make the most of it. It’s no secret that Riley always wanted to do what was right whether it was protocol or not.
“We have a Code One in Belize. A demon tribe is taking apart missionaries in the rain forest down there”
“And you're telling me this because?”
“We're going down to terminate their operation. We want you to join us” he said
At this Riley looked away, he could remember what it felt like to be needed, to be important. He knew in some ways Buffy did need him but sometimes it just wasn’t enough.
“I'm a civilian” he stated quietly
“You're a soldier” Ellis argued
Riley was starting to get angry, the last time he was with the government they drugged him up and almost killed him. There was no way in hell he was going to do that again.
“I quit the government a long way back” he said angrily
“We're not government. We're army” said Ellis
“Just like you” Graham threw in trying, he knew that it was a stretch but he wanted his friend back where he belonged
“It's not the Initiative, Finn. We don't do experiments. None of us give a damn what makes monsters tick. We just stop 'em” Ellis explained. He felt that he should make it perfectly clear that there would be no capturing of any kind.
They had sparked his interest and Graham could see that. Riley knew that he wasn’t really needed by Buffy and that he was just in a sense biding his time here but he still had to know why.
“What du neu need me for?” he asked bluntly
“Think you can handle yourself. And I always need bodies. I'm not gonna lie to you. It's the real deal; high risk, low pay, and seriously messy. We ship out for Central America tomorrow midnight. Now maybe civilian life is working out for you...and maybe not. Midnight, tomorrow; the decision's yours”
With that both commandos left Riley with his thoughts.

# # # # #

Agent Miller and Ellis stepped out of Riley Finns’ apartment complex. Ellis looked over at his companion in askance. Another reason he brought Graham along was because he knew this Buffy Summers and all of her haunts. Graham nodded and pointed in the direction of Sunnycrest, one of Sunndales’ many cemeteries.
They found the Slayer in the midst of hand to hand battle with a newly risen vampire. The fledgling was surprisingly strong and agile but Buffy soon gained the upper hand and within seconds there was one less member of the fang gang. The blonde didn’t need to turn around to know that there were two people behind her and one of them she knew.
“What are you doing here?” she asked before turning to face them
Graham stepped forward hoping that he would be able to convince her to join their ranks. He knew that this tenacious young woman was not for following orders. She was more of an anarchist than anything but the army could not only use her, they needer. er. They’d been watching her for a long while and they knew that she had stepped up her own training and she knew more about demons and magicks than any of themIt wIt was Graham who suggested the recruitment of Buffy anyway; there were just too many demons that couldn’t be killed with brute force alone. So it was decided to watch the Slayer but they couldn’t wait any longer.
“We need to talk”
“About what exactly, I mean if this has to do with Riley…”
He cut her off right away; he knew that he had to make it as clear as possible that their request for her to join them had nothing to do with Riley and everything to do with her abilities.
“No this has everything to do with you and nothing to do with Riley. Now you no that the Initiative has been completely disbanded but a lot of its soldiers have been taking on in this proj I m I mean they already know what demons are and how to fight them”
Buffy looked at him curiously, she couldn’t believe that the United States government wanted her for some reason.
“That’s great for you…I guess but what does any of this have to do with me.”
Ellis decided it was time to step forward and take over for Agent Miller. He knew that this girl was not going to be easy to convince but one could only hope.
“We have a Code One in…” he trailed off at the confusion that marred the Slayers’ face and the clearing of his companions’ throat. Graham had to hold back the laughter at the Slayers expression.
“A demon tribe is taking apart missionaries in the rain forest” he just decided it best to put it bluntly. At this her first reaction was shock and sadness then it was confusion, basically she gave him a look like ‘again what does this have to do with me?’
“We’re going down there to stop them…we want you to come with us” he said it carefully and slowly hoping to convey how serious he was about his request.
Buffys’ eyes grew wide at what the former Initiative soldier had just said to her.
“You want me, to go with you…where?”
“To Belize, I mean that’s just the first mission. If you were to come with us it wouldn’t just be this time. You’d be one of us, a solider.”
Buffys’ mind was spinning; she couldn’t believe what she was being told. Ellis saw her face and knew that she was considering the idea which was good…very good. So he decided it was high time to let her in on some of the perks of the job.
“Even though you’d just be startin’ in with us, you’d be a very high ranking officer, just a step above Agent Miller here. You know demons and the paranormal, we need someone like you and with the damage your capable of…well I hear you can handle yourself real well”
“Yeah well you heard right but that doesn’t mean I want to be part of some creepy government experiment type agency” makin cle clear she was NOT signing up for another Initiative type experience. Buffy took in their expression and what they have said to her.
“Look, let me at least think about Ok. I mean I have a life here and even though the Hellmouth has been pretty quiet doesn’t mean anything…I just need some time” she said sighing heavily
“We ship out for Central America tomorrow midnight, we’ll need to know before then” Graham said.
“You know where I live?”
At his nod she continued
“Tomorrow, noon, I’ll have your answer”
“Goodnight Buffy”
“G’night”

# # # # #

As the little blonde bounced down the steps she already knew who was on the other side of the door. Her head was still reeling from what she learned about Riley that morning. She was still in shock over everything. After her run in with the Graham and Ellis she went straight to Giles and called an emergency Scoobie meeting. In the end they all agreed that it was Buffy decision and that whatever she chose they would stand behind her.
Then when she came home she had to deal with Spike and the whole Riley issue, then this morning he had the nerve to give her an ultimatum, well she knew exactly what she was going to do now.
She remembered his words as they echoed throughout her mind.


They want me back, Buffy ... the military. It's deep undercover, no contact with civilians. Transport's leaving tonight

. . . . . . . .

‘I don't know, if we can't work this out...’

. . . . . . . .

‘I'm serious, Buffy, hit me. Hit me’

. . . . . . . .

‘I'm leaving, Buffy’


Buffy knew then what her answer to the army and Graham would be. She opened the door to reveal a somber looking Graham Miller. She invited him in and it was obvious that by his expression that he believed her answer was going to be no. Buffy looked up into his eyes and what he saw there made his eyes widen and a smile break out onto his face.

Still unsuf hef her answer he began to smile hesitantly at her but he had to know.

“You’re going to come with us”

At this she nodded vigorously. She and Graham had always had a great relationship even before her and Riley was officially together. Unlike Forest, Graham was confident with his friendship with Finn and was thrilled that such a sweet and unique girl like Buffy was giving Riley a chance.

He knew his friend didn’t have great luck with women but Buffy seemed like the perfect girl for him and he didn’t want to see him mess it up.

“So this is great, now you and Riley won’t have to be apart and you and I can catch up on stuff”

“Well actually I was hoping to get an earlier or different transport to base than Riley. You see I’d kinda like to surprise him and well…”

Seeing the mischievous glint in her soft green eyes, he knew that whatever was going on between the two of them it was going to make for an interesting experience.

“Sure, I can get that done for you. In fact that’d be even better because I get a chance to show you around the base and show the ropes. Since we’ll be working so closely on this its best to get all the mundane stuff out of the way”

“Great, you have my numbers so whenever you know when and where just let me know and I’ll be there…Oh and could you not tell Riley about this…any of this”

“Of course”

With that Graham walked out of the Summers home and into the mid-day. Buffy closed the door softly and leaned back against it before pushing off the door and heading upstairs. She had some packing to do and not a lot of time to do it in.

‘I wonder if I can wear leather…hmm.’

# # # # #


The sound of a helicopters propeller cut through the air and as the cool night air enveloped Riley Finn he continued to look around for a tiny little blonde that owned his heart. Riley continued to glance at his watch anxiously hoping that she’d show, he couldn’t help the defeated look that crosses his face.

His gaze fell toward the ground as he checked his watch one last time. Riley continued to stare at the two trees between which he longed for Buffy to appear. She doesn't. He turns and gets into the helicopter next to Graham. Riley continued to stare grimly out the front window all the while hoping for a little blonde to come and beg him to stay.

Graham couldn’t help but notice his friends’ distress expression. He had to hide the smile that threatened to break free, he knew that it was wrong to leave his friend thinking that his girl no longer wanted him but there wan no way in hell he was going to make Buffy made. Now was she not only his friend and Slayer but she was his superior officer.

“Hey Rye, don’t stress Ok. You’re coming home”

“Yeah, home” he agreed absently

Riley was completely lost in thought, he still couldn’t believe that Buffy hadn’t come for him. Though he told Xander that he believed that she didn’t love him, he still held a small sliver of hope that he was wrong. Riley Finns’ heart broke at that moment, the girl he loved more than anything else didn’t love him back and now he knew it for sure.

So the soldier settled in for the flight back to base and his new life…a life without Buffy Summers.

# # # # #


Buffy looked around her room for the night, it was actually decorated nicely for what she was originally expecting to see, it was nothing overly so but it was just nice. She guessed that she’d seen one two many movies. Believing all she would get was a room with a bed, she was sorely mistaken.

One of the men, an Agent Larsen had shown her to her quarters, Graham had shown her around the base and how everything worked earlier in the day. Graham had come to her house at noon looking for her answer and returned only two hours later saying there was a transport waiting for them. So taking what she had packed which was only one large duffel bag and slinging it over her shoulder she said goodbye to her mother and the Hellmouth.

She knew that Riley would be arriving soon and she couldn’t wait to see he look on his face once he saw that she was not only with the army but his superior officer. Buffy couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought; his head would probably spin around and fly off.

‘Whoa, I’ve spent too much time on the Hellmouth’

The silence was filled suddenly with the melody of Buffys’ new cell phone; a new phone was just one of the new high tech toys that Buffy had acquired since entering the base.

“Summers”

There was a small laugh at the other end of the line before the caller spoke.

“Summers, huh? You’re already getting into it”

“Very funny Graham isn’t this how you told me to answer my phone”

“Yeah it is, anyway I did have a reason for calling you…”

“Well soldier” she said teasingly

“Agent Finn just arrived”

His information was met with silence, Graham wasn’t sure as to what was going on between the two of them but he hoped that whatever it was, that they worked it out.

“Is he going through debriefing?”

“As we speak and then he’ll be lead to his quarters for the night”

“So tomorrow then…”

“Tomorrow”

“G’night Graham”

There was a slight pause before Graham said Goodnight in return. Buffy hit the end button and flipped her phone closed. She knew that she was going to have to face him sooner or later but she just couldn’t decide which would be better…the sooner or the later.

# # # # #

Buffy groaned as she rolled over in bed and saw the time; she knew that getting up early was one thing that was going to take some getting use to. It was almost as if the fates knew she was going to attempt to get some more sleep when Graham knocked heavily on the door and then entered.

“Rise and shine, soldier” he said cheerily

Buffy just groaned and growled loudly and tried to burrow back down beneath the covers. She was still having trouble with this getting up before the sun concept.

“I don’t wanna” she mumbled

Graham had to smile, if she wasn’t already Rileys’ girl he might’ve made a move himself.

“Come on Buffy, you really do have to get up”

Resigned to her fate she sat up in the bed letting the sheet fall around her waste and Graham was greeted with the site a very bed tousled Slayer clad in a pink tank and black lounge pants.

“Alright so when the hell breakfast around here”

“Get dressed, I’ll be right outside and we’ll head to the mess hall together”

Buffy nodded in agreement before suddenly stopping him from leaving the room. Graham looked at her askance and she gestured to the closet.

“Last night practically all my personal stuff was taken. Where are my clothes?”

“Oh of course, I spoke to Ellis and uh well you can keep a lot of the clothes you brought with you. I didn’t know a person could own so much black” he said with a smile

“Yeah well when you’re the Slayer, you have to have an adaptable wardrobe”

“I’ll see you in a few minutes, get dressed soldier we’lwe’ll get something to eat” he said with a smile

“Gimme about twenty minutes”

# # # # #


The mess hall was packed and extremely loud. Buffy struggled to keep up with Graham as they weaved there way through the throng of people.

“Ok that is adventure in itself”

“C’mon there are over 300 guys and one place to get some food. Of course its gonna be ridiculous but I do have to agree today was worse and that’s because today we’ve got maneuvers”

“Maneuvers” she asked

“Yeah, kinda like that Slayer training you did with that guy…you Watcher”

“Ok, that’s cool with me”

So with that they both began to start in on their breakfast. Buffy had eggs, toast and orange juind Gnd Graham had the same except instead of juice he had coffee.

“Do you think you’re ready lead your own Quadrant”

At the frightened expression that crossed her face it was obvious to most anyone that she was a little more than nervous about taking on her full command.

“You’ll do fine Buffy, I just have to warn you about one thing…”

“And that is…”

”Riley is your second”

# # # # #

Agent Graham Miller stood at the front of the meeting area. Four other soldiers including Riley Finn filed into the room and took their seats. Graham and Riley acknowledged one another with a nod and once everyone was settled Graham went about the debriefing.

Just before the meeting was over he announced that since they were Special Ops, that there would be another commanding officer. At that moment a small blonde walked into the room and all jaws hit the floor, Graham just smirked at his fellow soldiers’ reactions.

“I’d like you all to meet Agent Buffy Summers, she is your commanding officer and my equal and she will be treated as such. She’s also known as The Slayer”

The realization that they were talking to ‘The Slayer’ that took down the Initiative was astounding. They were all told that she was a bit of an anarchist and not one for following orders.

Riley on the other hand was beyond speechless, he was close to catatonia. Buffy. Buffy Summers was there with him and was HIS commanding officer. This couldn’t be happening to him, so he did the only thing he was capable at the moment, which was absolutely nothing.

# # # # #

End of Chapter One


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I know that there wasn't any hot, steamy SEX...YET!!! But I promise that it IS coming...sbeg beg you to REVIEW