4
4.O.cious Miss
Guest
Buffy sat quietly at her large, redwood desk and perused the office. The room was garishly decorated in highly priced paintings and Persian rugs. Dawn had recently graduated college and opened her own Interior decorating business in the near vicinity. She thought she'd show her little sister how proud she was of her by being her first customer. Her office and the outside waiting room looked spectacular. And for what she had payed for the interior make-over, it better.
This was their first day open since the remodel, and Buffy's entire day was booked. She had back to back appointments scheduled from Nine to Five-thirty. Glancing at the grandfather clock against the far wall, it read 8:50. Her first patient for the day would be arriving soon. Standing slowly and strolling across the room to her office door, she opened it and flipped down the (door)stop. She was still adjusting to having a daytime job. After all slaying wasn't exactly banker hours. Her six years of college were rough, studying and slaying, but she managed to avoid attending class before 10 am. She couldn't remember a time before that she actually had to wake up before Eight O' clock. Not since high school anyway.
Almost startling her, the cell phone inside the top drawer of her desk began to ring. She opened it hastily and fished for it. Phone in hand, she took a glance at the caller ID. It was Willow, from Istanbul. "Hey Will." Buffy chimed as she fell back slightly into her large, comfortable chair. "How are things on your side of the world?" There was a moments silence and then a slight giggle. "Hey Buff...How'd Dawnie do on the office?"
"Fantabulous...My little sister is brilliant. Runs in the family you know!" Buffy grinned sheepishly.
"So I hear....Dr. Summers." Willow sighed, "I have to admit...I never thought I'd see you set up like this! I mean, Hollywood...wow! I'm so proud of you! Miss doctor to the stars!"
Buffy glanced momentarily into the waiting room and noticed that there was a man and a little boy sitting silently. The little boy looked down at his hands and fidgeted while he waited. But after a second he glanced up in her direction and she about dropped the phone. He had dark disheveled hair, and sad, brooding eyes. There was something so familiar about them. "Willow, I...I have to go. My Nine O clock is here. Talk later." Buffy closed the phone and sat it atop her desk, she rose slowly and silently and made her way to the door. "Mr. Vance?" She spoke with the slightest waiver in her voice. "I will see you and your son now."
The man and boy stood and started down the slight hallway toward her. The little boy stared at her quite intensely and then stopped cold in his tracks. "Daddy....thats her!"
Cocking her head slightly, Buffy looked down at him bewildered. "Excuse me?"
Mr. Vance dropped down to one knee and put a hand on his shoulder. "Gabriel, what do you mean son?"
The boy huddled into his fathers chest and whispered in his ear. The man wore an expression of growing concern. He then stood, still holding his son in his arms. He nodded toward Buffy's office, "May we?" She stepped aside and notioned toward the overstuffed couch on the opposite side of her desk, "Please."
The two sat down, and Mr. Vance sighed heavily. He folded his hands atop his knees and looked up at Buffy. It wasn't until then that she realized how incredibly tired he looked. He was a handsome man, with raven hair, brilliant blue eyes, and a toned physique. His lavish suit and shiny rolex implied that he did not lack in money. But his shaking hands and furrowed brow told her that it couldn't fix his problems. She shut the door quietly behind her and returned to her perch behind her desk.
"Dr. Summers, We're here because Gabriel has...dreams. Nightmares really. And I need to understand where they are coming from. He wakes up screaming almost every night...and now they affect him in the daytime. I've tried to locate some sort of trigger for his episodes, with no prevail. But they're startling, and his dreams....when he describes them, he portrays things that scare the daylights out of me."
Buffy listened intently , and tried with all of her might not to stare at Gabriel. There was something in his eyes. Something so sad...something so familiar. "What sort of things does he talk about Mr. Vance?"
"Please, just call me Urban." He attempted a weak smile before staring down at his own fidgeting hands.
"Okay Urban...Please tell me what sort of things?" Buffy sat forward and layed her arms down on the desk.
"Vampires. Demons. He describes them in such detail...It's horrible. At first we just thought he was watching the wrong sort of element on television, or that someone was telling him horror stories. But I think..." He paused momentarily and focused his attention on his son. " I think he's had these dreams since he was an infant. He used to wake us at night, every night screaming. Even before he could walk or crawl. We changed his diapers, fed him, sang to him...nothing helped. For three years we tried to figure out what could possibly cause these night terrors. Then he started daydreaming...and my wife couldn't take it anymore. She left us, and now it's like he lives in this alternate reality. One very graphic and violent. He's convinced now that vampires are real. He tells me sometimes that he's killed people...He's been dropped from all the area schools for his abnormal behavior....Dr. Summers, I need help....please."
Buffy scowled and tightened her posture slightly, "I will Urban. We'll get to the bottom of this, okay?" She smiled warmly and took out her handheld tape recorder. Placing it on the desk, she inhaled deeply. "When you arrived...Gabriel said That's her, I can only assume he was pertaining to me. Do you mind me asking what that was about?"
Urban laughed timidly, "Theres a woman in his dreams. He says she appears frequently...and in his dreams she fights the vampires with him. I know it sounds rediculous....But he thinks that you....well, he thinks you are the woman in his dreams...."
Gabriel sat forward hastily and interrupted, "Daddy, Thats HER! Her name is Buffy! She's the slayer! I know it!" He then turned to Buffy and continued to yell, "TELL HIM! Tell him about the vampires! Tell him about the Master, and The Order of Teraka! You have to! Tell him about the Mayor, and..."
Urban sternly placed his hands on his sons shoulders and shook him softly. "Gabriel! STOP!" Gabriel quieted and fell into tiny convulsions, whimpering to himself.
" I am SO sorry!" He shook his head as he spoke," This is the sort of thing I was talking about."
Buffy sat, stunned and almost paralyzed. "No...Urban....It's okay. Please....Do you mind if I talk to Gabriel....alone?"
Urban's back straightened quickly and his brow furrowed, "Certainly not! I'll hear nothing of it. What if he needs me here and I'm..."
Interrupting, Buffy placed a hand on his shoulder and focused on his crystal blue eyes " Urban, It's okay. You've done all you can...now let me help him. I promise you he will be okay. I just need him to open up a bit more and I don't think that will happen if you are here with him. You can sit right outside in the waiting room. Please."
He paused a moment before standing. He smiled timidly at his son and slowly walked toward the door. "Okay Dr. Summers...But if you need me?"
Smiling, she nodded slightly. " I will come and get you...promise."
Turning and retreating from the room, Urban sighed heavily. He made his way to the nearby waiting room and Buffy softly closed the door. Instead of going back to her perch behind her desk, she smiled warmly and sat at the edge of the couch. Gabriel looked up at her, so obviously confused, "You are Buffy Summers...aren't you?"
Grabbing his hand and holding it gingerly between her own, she nodded. " I am. And in your dreams...I am the slayer?"
He shook his head vigorously in agreement. Buffy took a deep breath and paused a moment. " And who are you in your dreams? Are you Gabriel?"
The boy frowned slightly, "No...I don't think so. I'm older. It looks like me, But I'm a vampire. A good one. And my name isn't Gabriel, everybody calls me..."
Buffy felt a tightness in her chest, and she whispered,"Angel?"
He jumped hastily off the couch and jerked his hand from hers, "Yes! It IS you, Isn't it?!"
Changing the subject, Buffy stood and notioned for him to sit back down." Gabriel, sweetie...I need you to tell me everything you can about your dreams. Okay?"
To Be Continued....
This was their first day open since the remodel, and Buffy's entire day was booked. She had back to back appointments scheduled from Nine to Five-thirty. Glancing at the grandfather clock against the far wall, it read 8:50. Her first patient for the day would be arriving soon. Standing slowly and strolling across the room to her office door, she opened it and flipped down the (door)stop. She was still adjusting to having a daytime job. After all slaying wasn't exactly banker hours. Her six years of college were rough, studying and slaying, but she managed to avoid attending class before 10 am. She couldn't remember a time before that she actually had to wake up before Eight O' clock. Not since high school anyway.
Almost startling her, the cell phone inside the top drawer of her desk began to ring. She opened it hastily and fished for it. Phone in hand, she took a glance at the caller ID. It was Willow, from Istanbul. "Hey Will." Buffy chimed as she fell back slightly into her large, comfortable chair. "How are things on your side of the world?" There was a moments silence and then a slight giggle. "Hey Buff...How'd Dawnie do on the office?"
"Fantabulous...My little sister is brilliant. Runs in the family you know!" Buffy grinned sheepishly.
"So I hear....Dr. Summers." Willow sighed, "I have to admit...I never thought I'd see you set up like this! I mean, Hollywood...wow! I'm so proud of you! Miss doctor to the stars!"
Buffy glanced momentarily into the waiting room and noticed that there was a man and a little boy sitting silently. The little boy looked down at his hands and fidgeted while he waited. But after a second he glanced up in her direction and she about dropped the phone. He had dark disheveled hair, and sad, brooding eyes. There was something so familiar about them. "Willow, I...I have to go. My Nine O clock is here. Talk later." Buffy closed the phone and sat it atop her desk, she rose slowly and silently and made her way to the door. "Mr. Vance?" She spoke with the slightest waiver in her voice. "I will see you and your son now."
The man and boy stood and started down the slight hallway toward her. The little boy stared at her quite intensely and then stopped cold in his tracks. "Daddy....thats her!"
Cocking her head slightly, Buffy looked down at him bewildered. "Excuse me?"
Mr. Vance dropped down to one knee and put a hand on his shoulder. "Gabriel, what do you mean son?"
The boy huddled into his fathers chest and whispered in his ear. The man wore an expression of growing concern. He then stood, still holding his son in his arms. He nodded toward Buffy's office, "May we?" She stepped aside and notioned toward the overstuffed couch on the opposite side of her desk, "Please."
The two sat down, and Mr. Vance sighed heavily. He folded his hands atop his knees and looked up at Buffy. It wasn't until then that she realized how incredibly tired he looked. He was a handsome man, with raven hair, brilliant blue eyes, and a toned physique. His lavish suit and shiny rolex implied that he did not lack in money. But his shaking hands and furrowed brow told her that it couldn't fix his problems. She shut the door quietly behind her and returned to her perch behind her desk.
"Dr. Summers, We're here because Gabriel has...dreams. Nightmares really. And I need to understand where they are coming from. He wakes up screaming almost every night...and now they affect him in the daytime. I've tried to locate some sort of trigger for his episodes, with no prevail. But they're startling, and his dreams....when he describes them, he portrays things that scare the daylights out of me."
Buffy listened intently , and tried with all of her might not to stare at Gabriel. There was something in his eyes. Something so sad...something so familiar. "What sort of things does he talk about Mr. Vance?"
"Please, just call me Urban." He attempted a weak smile before staring down at his own fidgeting hands.
"Okay Urban...Please tell me what sort of things?" Buffy sat forward and layed her arms down on the desk.
"Vampires. Demons. He describes them in such detail...It's horrible. At first we just thought he was watching the wrong sort of element on television, or that someone was telling him horror stories. But I think..." He paused momentarily and focused his attention on his son. " I think he's had these dreams since he was an infant. He used to wake us at night, every night screaming. Even before he could walk or crawl. We changed his diapers, fed him, sang to him...nothing helped. For three years we tried to figure out what could possibly cause these night terrors. Then he started daydreaming...and my wife couldn't take it anymore. She left us, and now it's like he lives in this alternate reality. One very graphic and violent. He's convinced now that vampires are real. He tells me sometimes that he's killed people...He's been dropped from all the area schools for his abnormal behavior....Dr. Summers, I need help....please."
Buffy scowled and tightened her posture slightly, "I will Urban. We'll get to the bottom of this, okay?" She smiled warmly and took out her handheld tape recorder. Placing it on the desk, she inhaled deeply. "When you arrived...Gabriel said That's her, I can only assume he was pertaining to me. Do you mind me asking what that was about?"
Urban laughed timidly, "Theres a woman in his dreams. He says she appears frequently...and in his dreams she fights the vampires with him. I know it sounds rediculous....But he thinks that you....well, he thinks you are the woman in his dreams...."
Gabriel sat forward hastily and interrupted, "Daddy, Thats HER! Her name is Buffy! She's the slayer! I know it!" He then turned to Buffy and continued to yell, "TELL HIM! Tell him about the vampires! Tell him about the Master, and The Order of Teraka! You have to! Tell him about the Mayor, and..."
Urban sternly placed his hands on his sons shoulders and shook him softly. "Gabriel! STOP!" Gabriel quieted and fell into tiny convulsions, whimpering to himself.
" I am SO sorry!" He shook his head as he spoke," This is the sort of thing I was talking about."
Buffy sat, stunned and almost paralyzed. "No...Urban....It's okay. Please....Do you mind if I talk to Gabriel....alone?"
Urban's back straightened quickly and his brow furrowed, "Certainly not! I'll hear nothing of it. What if he needs me here and I'm..."
Interrupting, Buffy placed a hand on his shoulder and focused on his crystal blue eyes " Urban, It's okay. You've done all you can...now let me help him. I promise you he will be okay. I just need him to open up a bit more and I don't think that will happen if you are here with him. You can sit right outside in the waiting room. Please."
He paused a moment before standing. He smiled timidly at his son and slowly walked toward the door. "Okay Dr. Summers...But if you need me?"
Smiling, she nodded slightly. " I will come and get you...promise."
Turning and retreating from the room, Urban sighed heavily. He made his way to the nearby waiting room and Buffy softly closed the door. Instead of going back to her perch behind her desk, she smiled warmly and sat at the edge of the couch. Gabriel looked up at her, so obviously confused, "You are Buffy Summers...aren't you?"
Grabbing his hand and holding it gingerly between her own, she nodded. " I am. And in your dreams...I am the slayer?"
He shook his head vigorously in agreement. Buffy took a deep breath and paused a moment. " And who are you in your dreams? Are you Gabriel?"
The boy frowned slightly, "No...I don't think so. I'm older. It looks like me, But I'm a vampire. A good one. And my name isn't Gabriel, everybody calls me..."
Buffy felt a tightness in her chest, and she whispered,"Angel?"
He jumped hastily off the couch and jerked his hand from hers, "Yes! It IS you, Isn't it?!"
Changing the subject, Buffy stood and notioned for him to sit back down." Gabriel, sweetie...I need you to tell me everything you can about your dreams. Okay?"
To Be Continued....
