Portal

"Bye, Bob. Take care." She turned to get another personal effects bag for the iPod.

She was alone. After closing the bag and leaving the evidence in the tray, she turned and jumped when she saw Kathleen sit up on the table, looking at her desperately and pointing at the other body.

"Save her!!"

At the same time, the other body moved her head.

"Save me, and I will save her."

Everything began spinning.

Tru woke up. All the images, the memories were passing in a rush through her mind. The theatre ticket. A blonde guy dressed in black with a long leather coat. A girl running. Effy fighting for her life surrounded by a group of monsters. Effy's body mutilated. She started crying, but she realized she was going to save the day no matter what.

Her cell phone was buzzing. She grabbed it and jumped off the bed. As she went to the bathroom and stripped to step in the shower, she opened her cell phone.

"Hey, Linds. I'm so sorry, I had a terrible night. I'll be in the cafeteria in 15 minutes."

"Ok, sweetie. You're paying today, I've been waiting for almost an hour."

"Yeah, I know, I'm so sorry. I'll be there in no time, ok?"

"Ok, later."

Tru took a shower, dressed in a hurry and went directly to the cafeteria, where she knew she could find Effy and start fixing everything from there.

Buffy opened her eyes when everything seemed to stop. She blinked trying to adjust to daylight. Then a disgusting smell hit her.

"Oh, c'mon, couldn't I land anywhere else? Of course not." She complained while removing some garbage from her clothes. "I had to land in a crappy trash can. This is great, just great!"

Tru arrived at the cafeteria. She entered quickly and went where she already knew her friend was waiting for her. When Lindsay saw her, she smiled.

"Hey!"

"Sorry, Linds. I didn't mean to make you wait for that long."

"It's ok. You're still paying for breakfast today," the blonde bantered.

The waitress came closer.

"Good morning, ladies. Have you decided already?"

"Coffee and a french toast for me." Tru didn't look at the menu this time either.

"I admire your determination...Should I order pancakes? Or maybe toast? No, better the pancakes and...yeah, cappuccino."

Lindsay closed the menu. When the waitress turned, she was going to stop her but Tru raised her hand.

"No, Lindsay, you're not ordering muffins."

"Why not? And why do you know?" The blonde was confused.

"You are so predictable. Just trust me, ok? Besides, pancakes here are really good." She tried to avoid any more questions.

"You're right. So tell me, how have you been?"

"Fine. Working, studying...the usual."

"Well, the test is next week, right? After it, you will have more time for me...and for rethinking some stuff, like you and Luc."

"Linds, I've been thinking a lot about it. I'm over Luc. Things don't work, and I don't feel like trying again."

"Well, if you're sure about it... I mean, you tried, but if you don't feel 'the sparks', what's the point? It's a shame, he's a decent guy, maybe the most decent guy you've dated. And he's hot!"

"Oook, it seems you are more interested in him than I am...All yours. He's a good guy." They both laughed.

"Actually, I wouldn't mind if he made a move on me, you know? Well, once you finish your test, we will go clubbing and we will find the right guy...or girl," the blonde wiggled her eyebrows.

"Actually, I've been thinking about Effy lately. I miss her, Linds. I think I'm going to call her." Lindsay was shocked.

"Really? What changed? I mean, every time we talk about it, you seem to deny she meant something for you. Like you're ashamed of what you felt for her."

"I think I'm ashamed of letting her go." Tru started checking on the door nervously.

"Aw, sweetie. Call her, maybe it's not too late."

"It's four years too late. But I have to do it. I need to talk to her." She checked on the door again.

"Tru, are you ok? Are you waiting for someone?" Lindsay turned to look at the door.

"No, I'm not. I'm just kinda restless. I'm not sleeping very well these days."

The waitress arrived at the table with their breakfast in a tray. She was serving their coffee when Tru saw the blonde she was really waiting for enter the place. She tried to repress her feelings. She wanted to run to her and hug her, to tell her so many things, but she didn't want her friend to know her secret. So she pretended she didn't see her and tried to distract Lindsay.

"I'm starving. I really had to order some pancakes too. Yours look great." She acted nonchalant.

They had breakfast, but Tru couldn't stop being aware of the blonde's position all the time. Someone called the waitress, complaining because their muffin had a hair inside.

"Ewww...Thank God I finally ordered pancakes. Well, thanks to you, actually."

"I told you so. I had a bad feeling about muffins today..."

Lindsay was a little suspicious but, as always, she didn't ask. The blonde had the feeling her friend was keeping something from her for a long time now, but she respected her and decided to wait for her to share whatever she was hiding.

When Tru saw the blonde was going to the bar, she drank the rest of her coffee, used the napkin to wipe her lips and stood.

"I gotta go! I'm sorry, Linds, but I forgot something. I need to go to the morgue. Please, finish your breakfast, it's on me."

"But Tru..." She was used to these runaways from her friend, but she couldn't understand what was happening. She was worried that maybe her friend was in trouble.

"Sorry, Linds. Let me think...Could we have breakfast tomorrow? Same time? Here? Say yes, please!" She couldn't wait for much longer or the blonde was going to disappear.

"Ok, whatever. Tomorrow then," she shrugged.

Tru approached her and kissed her in the cheek.

"You're awesome!"

After paying the bill she ran outside. The blonde was not far from her, so she kept running. When she was near, Tru called her.

"Effy!! Wait, Effy!!"

The blonde turned to find a brunette hugging her. With no time to see who she was, Tru kissed her passionately. Buffy was unable to do or say anything and she found herself responding to that kiss.

Once her brain came to terms with what she was doing, Buffy stopped kissing those soft lips and pushed lightly away from the body who was pretty close to her. When she saw the face of the girl she was kissing, the slayer just laughed.

"Ok, who are you here? What's your name? And why were you kissing me? Because, let me guess, you're not Faith."

"Faith? Who's Faith?"

"I knew it...Always the same." She looked at the sky like she was talking to someone else. "Damn, Faith, you're driving me crazy in every dimension." Then she stared at the stranger in front of her. "Ok, what's your story?"

"Oh, Effy, I know I was horrible, you didn't deserve it, but please, stop pretending you don't remember me." Tru was almost crying.

"Who's Effy? Buffy, my name is Buffy." Tru looked confused.

"Are you serious? Aren't you pretending?" She narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out if she was lying.

"Yeah, I'm Buffy Summers. And you are..." Buffy tried to be patient.

"Tru Davies. Seriously, aren't you Effy?" Buffy sighed. "Ok, ok. I believe you. Anyway, I need to talk to you. You're not going to believe me. Where should I start?"

"Start from the beginning. And trust me, I bet I've seen things you wouldn't believe, not even in your worst nightmares. Go ahead."

"You're in danger."

Buffy laughed.

"Oh, really? I guess my little holiday in New York is already busted. When am I not in danger? Tell me, what's the deal?"

Tru frowned. It was the first time she had such a good reaction.

"I don't really know, maybe you can help me figure things out?"

Tru's cell phone started buzzing.

"Oh, damn, Harrison! Please, I have to take this call, it won't be long. Then we could go somewhere quieter and I will explain everything, ok?"

Buffy shrugged. "I don't really have anything else to do. Take your time."

The brunette smiled.

"Hey, Har."

"Morning, Tru. How's my favourite beautiful sister today?"

"Under the couch." She needed this conversation to end fast.

"What?"

"Your wallet is under the couch."

"How did you know...Ok, you're in one of those days, aren't you?"

"Yeah, one of those days. I gotta go, Harrison. I'll call you once this crazy day finishes, ok?"

"Don't worry. Thanks for the info. Oh, and call me if you need help."

"Thank you. Bye."

She hung up and made a gesture to Buffy with her head, showing her the way. They started walking.

"Well, let me explain everything. I work in a morgue. And I have an ability...People who aren't meant to die ask for my help there and the day rewinds."

Buffy didn't seem very surprised. She didn't even look at her like Tru was crazy.

"Ok, go on."

"You died yesterday. Well, not exactly. You're supposed to die today. I'm reliving this day. You asked for my help. And there's another girl who's going to die if we don't help her. I just know some details."

"Me? Dying? Again?"

Tru looked at her puzzled. "What? I have the feeling you have some crazy story here..."

"You have no idea. And I'm not sure if you're going to believe it."

"Try me. You know, after discovering this ability, I think I can believe in anything. They found a stake near your body, and you had bites everywhere. Do I have to believe in vampires now? I will."

"Right, maybe you are going to believe me then. Yes, vampires do exist. I'm a vampire slayer. I was the Chosen One, but now there are a lot of girls like me over the world. Not here, I guess, but in my world."

"Whoa, wait. Your world?"

"Heh, I told you. I'm not from this dimension. I was in Cleveland fighting against a demon with someone who is exactly like you."

"That Faith chick you mentioned? Wait, did you say Cleveland? Oh God, Effy is supposed to be in Cleveland. This is weird, you know? Effy is exactly like you. By the way, sorry for kissing you and all, I didn't apologize."

"Never mind. Funny thing...Buffy and Effy, very similar. And Tru, like true, and Faith, very biblical. Well, I've been travelling through dimensions. I don't know why and I don't know how to go back home. Anyway, you have to tell me everything you know. I'm not very good at researching and all, but the more you can tell me the better I can prepare for the fight."

"Oh, no, you're not fighting tonight. All we have to do is find the other girl and stay away from Central Park tonight."

Buffy shook her head.

"Tru, we cannot do that. I can't. If we stay away from there, we could survive, yeah, but someone else could die. It's my calling. It's my duty. And I cannot go away. Don't you understand?"

"Yes, I do. I have the same feeling every time someone asks for help. But I don't want you to die."

She looked at the ground. Buffy touched the brunette's jaw, making her face lift and look at her in the eye.

"Hey, Tru, I've died twice. And today? Not gonna happen. But i'm gonna need your help. Just tell me everything you know."

The blonde smiled and caressed Tru's cheek. The brunette smiled too showing her dimples.

"Ok, let me think... You were surrounded by a lot of beasts. They were like human, but they weren't. I don't know how to explain."

"Like human with a very disgusting face, lizard eyes, sharp fangs?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"Vampires. A lot of them then, right? We're going to need some weapons. Go on, please."

"There was a blonde guy. Well, actually bleach blonde. I don't know if he was a vampire. But he seemed happy to see you dead."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "A bleach blonde guy? Don't tell me he was like an old punk legend. Long leather coat maybe? Dressed in black?"

"Yes! Exactly! How do you know? Do you know him?"

"In more than one way. Let's say we've met a long time ago and we have been enemies and friends over the years. At one time, we even had some kind of understanding...But in my dimension, he died. He gave his life to save the world. I think he's the same vampire I met without the good parts. Anything else?"

Tru tried to remember all the details. "Regarding the fight, I don't know anything else. I know the place where you died. And I found a theatre ticket in your pocket."

Buffy got excited. "Oh, really? I should go to Broadway. Can we go? Can we?"

Tru watched Buffy's face and thought she was so cute. "Buffy! Focus! We're going to beat the bad guys, right? I have an idea. If we make it, I will go with you and I will pay for the tickets. Deal?"

Buffy shook the brunette's hand. "Deal! Yay! Ok, ok, focus. Spike and fair play don't usually match up. You have to show me the place."

"First we should find the other girl. Her name is...Morris, Kathleen Morris. We could go to the morgue and search in the database. Besides, I had an appointment with my boss. He will understand. He usually helps me, he knows about my 'gift', as he calls it. You said we need weapons, what kind of weapons?"

"Uhm, bows and arrows, a sword could be useful too. I have just one stake..."

"I know who could get us some weapons. Hold on."

Tru took out her cell phone and dialled.

"Hey, Har, it's Tru. I'm gonna need your help."

"Sure. What do I have to do?"

"Could you please get some weapons? I need some bows and some arrows. And swords. And if you could also get some stakes too, it would be great."

"Whoa! Weapons? What for?"

"Are you going to believe me?" She wasn't very sure.

"Of course! Tell me, what's going on?"

"We are going to beat some vampires' asses!"

"Have you said vampires? You're insane," he retorted.

"I'm not insane. See? You never believe me when I tell you weird stuff. Maybe this is weirder than other times, but still. So can you get the weapons or not?"

"Gimme two hours and I'll meet you in the morgue. I'll see what can I get. Oh, and count me in the fight! Later, sis!"

She hung up.

"Ok, my brother is going to provide us with weapons. Do you need a little army to fight with you? Because he's willing to fight. And he's stubborn, he's not taking a no for an answer."

"I don't like to put civilians in danger. But honestly, I could use some help. We'll see."

Tru was determined. "Well, I'm also going to fight. You need help, and we're beating those vampires. Count me in too."

"Oh, no, no way!" Buffy looked serious.

"Yes way. I'm as stubborn as my brother. We're fighting with you... Let's go to the morgue and do some research."

They started walking. Buffy was worried, trying to come with a plan to beat Spike. Tru began speaking. "This Faith from your dimension...is she your girlfriend?"