Expiation

Anne's apartment. 

Lily is there waiting for her to return. She finds Buffy's stuffed duck and picks it up to stroke it. 

Buffy opens the door, 

comes in and closes it behind her.

Lily puts the duck down and steps closer to Buffy.

Lily: Did you find Rickie? I thought of--well, he likes to go to this movie house, you can get in around the back--

Buffy: (interrupting) Lily . . . I think he's dead.

Lily: (very sad and lost) But . . . he takes care of me.

Buffy: I'm sorry.

Lily: We're gonna get a place. His cousin can get him a job at the car wash.

Buffy: Lily, there's (exhales) there's something else. (sits on the bed) The, the person that I found . . . was old. He-he looked about eighty.

Lily: Well, that's not Rickie!

Buffy: I'm SURE it was. I, I don't know how, but . . . it was like something drained the life out of him.

Lily: Do you mean like a vampire?

Buffy: No. A vampire couldn't accelerate the aging process. Maybe it was something in his blood. (has a thought) When was the last time you guys gave blood together?

Lily: I don't understand. Maybe it's not Rickie, okay?

Buffy: (stands up) Lily, this is something you're just gonna have to deal with.

Lily: (flustered) But he didn't do anything wrong! Why would this happen to him?

Buffy: That's *not* the point. (Lily calms a bit) These things happen all the time. You can't just . . . close your eyes and hope that they're gonna go away.

Lily: Is it 'cause of you?

Buffy: (confused) What?

Lily: You know about . . . monsters and stuff. You could have brought this with you.

Buffy: (very annoyed) I didn't bring anything with me. And I didn't ask for you to come to me with your problems. I just wanted to be left alone. If you can't deal, then *don't* lay it off on me!

Lily can't take it. She holds up her hands to deny what she's hearing and walks out of the apartment. Buffy sighs, regretting raising her voice to Lily.