Important: No copyright do-dads intended. And Joss Whendon is my master. And no money is made off this nonsense :)

ALSO: notice that in this chapter... it does switch point of veiws for a second. *Jenny*/*Giles* means it is in their point of view. and also the ##### means Jenny is having a dream, and if it looks like ####F###L###A###S###H###, then Jenny is having a flash back, this will make more sense as you read.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY :)

Chapter 2: My Best Friend

*Jenny*

Before I got into the bathroom to change, I asked him if I could take a quick shower, I imagined that the dead smell nothing like any of his favorite books that he adored. Although he insisted that I didn’t smell wretched, he allowed me to use the shower whenever I pleased.

I came out of the bathroom wearing the pajama’s he lent me and for the first time today, feeling rather clean. Rupert was also sitting on the edge of his bed when I walked in and he looked a little nervous, and excited at the same time.

“Turn around and close your eyes.” He said.

I gave him a funny looked and then did as instructed.

As I waited, he lifted my hair just a bit. This touch made my skin scream for more, goose bumps danced their way up my arms, and although my eyes were already closed, they still manages to roll to the back of my head. Something cold had wrapped its way around my neck and then my hair was back to my shoulders.

“You can open your eyes now.” He whispered in my ear.

I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror. “Oh my, Rupert, it’s beautiful!”

“It is.” He said, but as I noticed from the mirror he was focused on me, not the necklace.

The necklace was sparkling in the light, and the gems formed the shape of a “J”. It fit perfectly, and he was scary good at picking jewelry that looked really nice… well, nice on me anyway.

“J for Jenny…” he said.

I laughed “Really? As opposed to J for Jewelry, J for Jasper, J for…”

“Alright, I guess I need to realize that not everything needs an explanation.”

“It’s nice Rupert, but what was the occasion?”

“I went out and bought it for you after you told me you had something important to show me, the night you… The night you died. And you said you would stop by later. Well, I couldn’t give it to you then, so I’m giving it to you now. I assume that would make you the… occasion.” He smiled.

“Thank you.” I turned back towards him.

Without a word he smoothed his fingers through my hair, this action seemed to unwind him, or relax him in a way that I couldn’t understand. When I felt a yawn coming on, I leaned against Rupert to hide it.

“Jenny, let’s get to bed. We’ve had a long day…”

“I don’t want to keep you from your research…”

“I’ll live…” he protested.

Was I being selfish? From the lasting thing I remember, Giles was mad at me… everyone was. I felt like I just got him back too.

I got comfy in bed while Rupert changed in the bathroom. He was quick, and I was slowly drifting to sleep. As he got rested in bed, I asked one of the many questions I had been dreading to ask.

“So since I have been gone, what demons have kept you busy?”

“Other than the ghosts now, we have only had one other demon. I guess the excitement left when you did.”

“Oh,” I said feeling good that Angelus hasn’t caused any trouble.

Rupert interpreted my “Oh,” differently, and gave me a hug. “I like excitement.” He corrected.

I laughed, “Tell me about the other demon…”

I fell asleep in Rupert’s arms as he told me the story about the demon only Buffy could see, and still managed to kill before it hurt any other children. He was proud of his Slayer, and he showed it. I was proud of her too. I wish she would know that.

Jenny was working late, on her computer, as someone stood in the doorway and watched her.

“Hello?” Giles said walking into her classroom.

“Rupert… hey!” Jenny was frightened and then excited when she realized it was the exact person she wanted to talk to.

“You’re working late…”

“Special project.”

“Oh.” Rupert sounded intrigued.

“I spoke with Buffy today,” Jenny continued.

Giles smiled and sat at the edge of her desk, “Oh, yes?”

“She said you missed me…”She loved pushing Giles buttons.

Quickly turning pink, he managed to continue, “Well… she is a meddle some girl.”

Jenny was egger to surprise Giles with what she had been working on but knew she was so excited that she might just blurt it out now. She knew she had to do something about it. “Rupert…” she almost whispered, “Okay I don’t want to say anything if I am wrong, but I may have some news. I need to finish up here. Could I see you later?”

Giles smiled and took advantage of this moment, “Yes, yes… you could stop by my house.”

Jenny’s smile widened, “Okay.” She got the message.

“Good.” Giles smiled his goofy smile, and backed away slowly. Then he left her class with one last glance.

Jenny laughed; the night just couldn’t get any better for her.

When she looked back at the computer screen, something had loaded, and she was excited.

“That’s it!” Her expression changed to nothing but shock and disbelief. “It’s going to work!” Excited, she saved the files on a disk and pulled it out of the computer. The disk glowed a stunning yellow… it was an image not easy to forget, and especially in the room that had just became black and white, like a fifty’s television show. She looked up from her desk frightened.

“Argh…” she saw Angelus sitting at a desk not too far from her own, “Angel… how did you get in here?”

He laughed standing up and walking toward her from the desk, “I was invited…” he paused as if Jenny would get it, and then continued when he realized she hadn’t a clue, “the sign in the front of the school… ‘For mati Trans sincere Educatiaum.’”

It clicked, “Enter all ye’ who seek knowledge.” Jenny stood now terrified.

“What can I say, I’m a knowledge seeker.”

Jenny changed the subject “I’ve got good news…”

“I’ve heard…” Angel interrupted, “you went shopping at the local boggedy – boogedy store.” He walked toward Jenny’s desk and picked up an orb from the desk. “The Orb of Thesulah. If memory serves, this is supposed to summon a person’s soul, from the ether; Stores it until it can be transferred. Do you know what I hate most about these things?” He threw the orb at the wall behind Jenny with massive force and it shattered into tiny little fragments, and Jenny screamed, “They’re so damn fragile!” he continued, “Must be that shoddy gypsy craftsmanship, huh?”

Jenny was so frightened that tears formed in her eyes. She started moving toward the door but realized she was locked in and she continued to cry.

“I’m amazed how much the world has changed in just two and a half centuries. It’s a miracle to me,” he walked towards Jenny’s computer, “You put the secrets to restoring my soul in here,” he pushed the computer off the desk and it sparked when it hit the floor, starting a mini fire. Then he walked toward the printer and started pulling out the paper, “and it comes out here,” he read the paper, “The Ritual of Restoration! Wow, this brings back memories.” Angel was about to put the papers into the fire when Jenny stopped him.

“Wait! That’s your…”

“My cure?” he ripped the papers in two and continued to put them in the fire, “No thanks. Been there, done that… déjà vu’ just isn’t what it used to be… ”

Jenny knew at that moment what was about to happen to her, she was scared… she didn’t know what to do. She was helpless to this horrid fate.

Angel continued, “Boy, isn’t this my lucky day? The computer and the Pages…” he put his hands over the fire, “looks like I get to kill two birds with one stone…” he looked up at the frightened teacher, “the teacher makes three.”

Jenny ran but Angel caught her by the throat and threw her against the door with a smash, forcing the door to swing open. Ignoring the little cut on her head, she got up from the floor and ran. She knew what she was escaping from, she had grown up with Angelus’s stories… she was trying to escape death.

Hallways through hallways, they chased each other around the school and Angelus was not far behind. She got stuck at a door but was able to use her adrenaline to push it hard enough again to open it, slamming it behind her. That slowed Angel, but hadn’t stopped him. She tried one last thing, when he made it through the door, Jenny grabbed the janitors cart and pushed it at Angel. Angel was running so fast that he couldn’t react in time and he fell to the floor. Jenny continued quickly running up the staircase and made it half way before Angel caught her, he had been waiting there. She let out one last scream, and he grabbed Jenny’s neck laughing.

“Sorry Jenny, this is where you get off.”

“Argh!” I screamed, waking up.

“It was just a dream, Jenny it was just a dream.” Rupert said repeating to me.

To my surprise, Rupert had me tucked under his chin. He was hugging me tightly under the covers and I cried softly into his chest. I reached for my neck and it was fine and then tried speaking through my sobs.

“I-I, saw it… I re-remember everything… I-I”

“Shh…” Rupert whispered in my ear.

I tried to stop my ridiculous crying as Rupert held me closer.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I-I died! I-I really died!” The realization of my own words put me into shock, I remembered my death; I remembered my last moments; I remembered my last breath.

“It’s okay, I got you… your safe now.”

So many emotions were racing through my head like lightning. I couldn’t figure if I was furious, devastated, or fortunate to be alive. I had to focus, on my thoughts… and I knew there was something I have to finish; it was the one thing that was quite vivid in my dream, and the only thing that was clear in my thoughts. First I have to pull myself together, and take a deep breath. Rupert shouldn’t have to see me this way.

That was just a dream, that was only a dream.

I whipped my tears and caught my breathing back in order. Pulling out from under his chin, Rupert watched me. His puppy dog eyes were only making things harder, although that wouldn’t be the first time.

“My class…” I hesitated, “Don’t ask why this is important, but do you know what happened to my… my files and other things I had saved for my computer. They would all be with the new teacher…”

“Willow.”

“What?”

“She’s the new computer-science teacher. Shnider asked her to take over when…” he stopped, “You left. She, she may have all your files.”

“Oh.” That explains the Rosequarts.

“Sorry for asking but, what’s troubling you?”

I watched him relax, and his hands gently stoked the side of my face. I wonder if he felt the electric current I felt when he had done this.

“It was just something I was working on. I-I just wanted to make sure it didn’t get tossed out.”

“She hasn’t tossed out any of your things. She is using your lesson plans to teach the class. You should see her, she is really has the talent for teaching.”

I smiled relaxing, “It’s nice to hear the kids are doing good. How’s Xander?” the only one I haven’t heard Rupert talk about yet.

“Being attacked by locker monsters, the usual. But he and Cordellia seriously need to… ”

“Rupert! Is Xander…”

“He’s fine.” Rupert laughed.

He raced his fingers through my hair one last time, smiling that goofy smile.

I paused…“Sorry for the midnight fright.”

“Anytime.” His nose was almost touching mine.

I smiled turning over, as to not be so close to his face anymore, “We better sleep. One of us has work tomorrow.”

“Really? When did you get a job?” he joked.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and I laughed.

When I realized that I still have Angel’s cure.

“Night Rupert.” I persisted.

“Night Jenny.” His nose nestled through my hair.

I knew he wouldn’t let me leave so all night I waited, until I was sure Rupert fell asleep. Every aspect of my being was awake and alert; almost as it had been the moment before I died. When he fell asleep I carefully crawled out of his arms, so I wouldn’t wake him. I changed back into my now clean clothes and placed Rupert’s pajamas on the end of his bed. Then I searched for a hoodie, although I wasn’t sure he even owned one. Surprisingly among all the tweed I found Rupert owned Jeans! Not even on our dates he would wear them. I laughed quietly pulling out a hoodie from his closet and putting it on. Walking quietly down the steps, I put the hoodie over my head, and walked out the door.

I was heading out, not to hurt him, but to save him... from Angelus. I walked to the school to search for the disk I had left behind. I knew it still had to be there.

Walking at night probably wasn’t safe but I currently had no clue where my little green buggy was, or even if it still existed. With the hoodie pulled up over my head, I felt a little safer but not much. His house wasn’t too far from the school, which is good because he wouldn’t want his ancient car to fall apart in the middle of the road for driving more than a mile.

The darkness echoed around me and cars randomly drove by. Were those vampires or people walking on the other side of the road? I guess it didn’t entirely matter anymore since I had just reached the school. I walked to my class… no wait, Willow’s class and stood in front of the door.

Could I do it? Could I walk inside the room that once held me captive, to my deadly fate? I touched the door, feeling nothing. Unlocked, I twisted the knob and opened it up. I was frightened, but stepped inside.

Remember Jenny, this is not for you. Do this for Rupert. Do this for Buffy.

I stepped inside and left the door wide open. Never again could I close the door even if I thought I was alone. Then I walked toward the desk. My name plate had been removed and there were several other minor differences. I took a moment to process this; I was no longer the teacher. Since everyone knows I died, it would be a bit frightening, even to Shnider if I just walked back in asking for my job back. Besides, Willow’s enjoying teaching, and I am not going to take that away from her.

Once I snapped out of it, I opened the drawers searching… I searched through everything. I searched through everything twice, and even a third time, but it just wasn’t there. I turned on the computer. If there was one other place it could be… Willow probably loaded it to the computer not realizing what it was. Since Rupert didn’t happen to mention that Angel got his soul back, I figure they haven’t found it yet either; that would probably be a really big event, Rupert wouldn’t forget to tell me that.

The buzzing of the computer turning on made my heart skip a beat and I was watching my surroundings more than looking at the screen. Still nothing. The one thing I had to make everything up to Buffy was missing! I wasn’t going to allow my own death to be for nothing.

“Hey I remember you.”

Automatically I stopped what I was doing a stood from my chair. I searched for the voice but it wasn’t anywhere to be found. My palms were sweating like crazy and my heart sounded like scary background music.

It’s just a ghost, It’s just a ghost. Funny how that thought didn’t help me relax.

It continued, “You were here before, on the staircase. You escaped the spirit realm.” From what I could hear, it sounded like it was a guy, a teenager even.

“Who are you?” I asked shaking and backing up to the chalkboard.

“Oh sorry.” He said. Then the shadow of a person could be seen near the door way. The shadow got thicker, and before I knew it, a student had just formed in the doorway.

“Argh!” I screamed and almost fell over.

“Don’t be scared, I won’t hurt you.” He walked closer to me and my breathing quickened.

“Stay away!”

He stopped and the light hit him well enough for me to see him better. He looked to be seventeen, and was taller than me. He wore a Lettered Jacket and was rather thin.

“My goodness, you look so much like her.” He said. I guess he was examining me too.

“You didn’t answer my question.” I said, starting to feel a little more relaxed, but I wasn’t sure if he wanted to hurt me.

“Right, my name is James…” he paused, “I’d shake your hand, but unlike you, I’m still rather ghost like.”

“I can see that.”

“Tell me, what are you doing here so late?” He asked.

“Um… well, I was looking for something. What are you doing here?”

He looked at his feet, “Same.”

Was I really making small talk with a ghost?

“Oh, I see.” I said still a bit frightened, and trying to leave. “Well, I hope you find it. Maybe I’ll see you again sometime…”

“Wait! You’re a gypsy right?”

“How do you…”

“I need your help.” After these words left his lips, he vanished.

Run! I thought, but before I could take a step forward, something had rushed through me. I felt like water had splashed over me, but I wasn’t wet. Then something was controlling my arms. The last thing I remember doing before James took over my body, was taking out a piece of paper and drawing.

*Giles*

I woke up the next morning and instantly my heart was broken. Jenny was not sleeping in my arms, or even by my side. Without thinking I jumped out of bed and searched down stairs.

She wasn’t there.

“No! Dammit! No!”

Again, I ran up stairs but she wasn’t there. I couldn’t hold it in anymore, and let out all my tears. Crying was one thing, but going crazy was another. I sat on the corner of my bed, holding on to the edge.

Rupert why are you doing this to you self? You dreamed this didn’t you, you bloody bastard! I’m going crazy aren’t I? Miss calendar, who would have known she’s drive me insane??

Was she here? The dream was so vivid… No I knew she was here! She had to have been. I refuse to believe that, that was not her. Her hair under my finger tips and her lips against mine was something no dream could possible express. I stood up from the bed and something had fallen off. I looked behind me to see the pajama’s I lent Jenny, lying on the floor.

I without missing a beat, I got ready for work.

She was here, I know she was. Was she the ghost at the school after all…? But she came home with me and the visions from her kiss. The more I thought about this, the crazier I felt. I am not to worry the kids about my insanity, but that ghost has to be Jenny.

Before I left for work, I got breakfast; an already opened bottle of wine. Instead of trying to finish it then and there, I brought it with me in the car. If this ghost was Jenny, I wasn’t going to waste any time. She obviously needed me.

I got in the car and consumed some more of the wine.

What if this was just a dream? Giles you’re going insane. Take a deep breath… Jenny died two months ago. Don’t do this to yourself, your only going to make things worse. The pajamas were probably a coincidence. It’s not the first time you have dreamed about Jenny, and probably not the last.

I took another sip from the bottle, and I was a little more relaxed. Putting the bottle down, I started the car and looked through the review mirror.

There the Rosequarts dangled hitting the light; exactly where Jenny had placed it when I had given it to her last night.

Screw sanity! Jenny was here!

*Jenny*

As if it was a blink, I opened my eyes and found myself standing in front of the music room doors. They were decorated with balloons all around it and a poster taped on the glass, the one I guessed James had me working on… but why?

“You can’t just use people like puppets!” I yelled furious looking around. James wasn’t around, but I heard somebody walking down the hallway. I opened the doors and hid inside.

I waited hearing the footsteps getting louder as they neared the music room.

“Oh, somebody already did the decorations…” I heard the teacher say as she stopped to admire the balloons and poster.

“Look at that James, a volunteer!” I whispered rolling my eyes.

She continued reading the poster, “Be there, or be square. Ha, well I guess I’m square, because I have a date tonight. Sorry.”

She started walking off, mumbling how excited she was for her date. If I didn’t know any better, I’d guess being around teenagers has rubbed off on her. She sounded like a teenage girl going on her first date. Then again, I remember when Rupert used to make me feel that way. He still does…

Once she was far enough away, I slipped out of the music room and realized how bright it was. I guess the kids would be getting to school in a couple hours, so I better get home before they all see a “Ghost.” I ran back to Willow’s class and turned off the computer and cleaned the mess I made.

I’m not done here. I’ll be back.

When cleaning up, I noticed something I was too oblivious to notice before. I almost laughed but felt a heavy heart at the same time. I was too busy looking for a yellow disk; I hadn’t noticed much of anything else. I pulled the program out to read it.

“In Loving Memory of Jennifer Calendar…”

I only had the courage to look at the first page. The picture of me wasn’t exactly one I would approve of… but hey, I guess I had no say in it, huh? Being dead and all. The address of where my grave is was on the bottom of the page written rather small. Part of me wanted to see it, the other part of me thought that was I crazy idea.

Well, I guess I am a rather crazy person.

I memorized the address and headed out. It was bright out and quickly getting brighter, so I still decided to pull the hoodie up over my head. The walk towards the Graveyard wasn’t far, but it was long. Did I really want to see it?

It was getting chilly out, and I figured nobody would be at the graveyard this early. Even Buffy only hung around at night, as did the vampires. So I wandered in looking stone after stone at all the names of the people that passed away. Mine was hard to find. I guess I never realized quite how many people have died in Sunnydale. I walked toward a little pond that I noticed when I first walked in. It was rather pretty and peaceful in the middle of many graves. I would have thought many people would have wanted to bury their loved ones near it, only it wasn’t crowded by any. One white one, behind the bush, but that was it.

I got tired of searching and sat on that one grave stone near the pond. I stared into the pond coming up with the conclusion that maybe I really didn’t want to see my grave after all. I watched my reflection lightly moving on the surface of the water. I figured that the reason nobody was buried by the cute little pound was because maybe it was more expensive, but goodness, it was beautiful. And the white tomb stone I was sitting on, only made it look more peaceful. I guess this person had some rich friends.

With a yawn I figured I should get up and leave. Seeing my grave wouldn’t accomplish anything, I was only a little curious. I stretched my arms out and heard my shoulders pop. Before I was about to walk away, I froze.

##########F######L######A######S######H############B######A######C######K###########

Giles lightly placed flowers in front of the white tomb stone that read, “Jennifer Calendar.” Slowly he stood up, with Buffy nervously at his side, tears in both eyes.

He swallowed hard, “In my years as Watcher, I’ve buried too many people… but Jenny was the first I’ve loved.”

Buffy looked up at Giles, who was obviously trying to hold back some tears, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry I couldn’t have killed him for you, for her, when I had the chance. ”

They both stared blankly at tomb that had no dates, only a name. A name of a dear friend, who they felt didn’t deserve this fate.

Buffy continued, “I wasn’t ready… but, I think I finally am. I can’t hold on to the past anymore. Angels is gone, nothing is ever going to bring him back.”

Without a word, he put his arm around Buffy’s shoulder.

I couldn’t explain what had just happened although I knew it was something very odd. I looked back at the white tomb stone and walked toward it once more. Heart racing, I looked on the other side of it and saw my name carved onto it. I had sat on top of my stone and hadn’t even noticed, but instead watched the pond beside it. I guess Giles must have picked this spot for me, from the necklace to my grave; he either had nice taste, or new me too well.

I knelt beside the rock and lifted the flowers that Rupert had left for my rotting corpse. My eyes watered, as I lifted the little card left in the flowers. Opening it up, I noticed his prefect hand writing;

Everything we have been through and I know

I found my best friend. We’ve both made

Mistakes but I think my biggest was not getting

The chance to tell you that I love you. Please

Forgive me. I Love You. Always.

Rupert had drawn a heart and my name was written flawlessly through it. “Jenny.”

I laughed, Rupert was like a dream; he was effortlessly perfect.

A tear had landed on the paper and I put Rupert’s note in my pocket, leaving the decaying flowers by my grave.

*******Important... the flashbacks will be explained better in later chapters, I promise********