Cincinnati Apocalypse Part 5

Xander hesitated, tears gathering in his eyes. "We can't," he protested lamely. "We have to monitor the radio. Giles could call, or Buffy, or-"

"I turned the radio off."

"Faith! We can't do that! What if-"

"The sooner you roll your ass over and spread your cheeks, the sooner I'll turn the damned thing on again."

Xander felt the tears spill from his flooded eyes. "Please, Faith-"

"I'm waiting," she said. "If you don't keep me waiting another second, I might not even tell the others about this."

Having descended the high mountain in the their rented Volkswagen, with Riley and Michelle cramped in the backseat as their passengers, Willow walked with Riley while, a few paces behind them, Kennedy walked beside Michelle. Although, on the drive back into town, Willow and Riley had caught one another up on what they'd been doing since they'd last seen one another, they'd decided to stroll the streets of Rio de Janeiro together before going their separate ways at dawn.

"So you're big rogue-demon-hunter guy?" Willow remarked, casting a sidewise glance at Riley. "I'm impressed."

The commando grinned. "And Kennedy," he said, referring to Willow's current lover. "I'm impressed."

Willow smiled. "Michelle's not too hard on the eyes, either." She thought about how Riley and Buffy had once been a couple, and she felt a surge of loyalty for her friend, the Slayer. "Of course," she added hastily, "she's no Buffy."

"That's true," Riley replied, rather curtly, "but she'll do."

"Oh, gee, Riley, I didn't mean to-"

"Forget it," he told her. "You're loyalty's refreshing."

Willow shrugged. "It's nothing. Buffy brings that out in people."

"I guess she didn't bring it out in me," Riley admitted.

Great! Willow chided herself. Twice now, she'd opened her mouth and inserted her foot. "Riley, I-" she started.