THE ONE
by perletwo
Buffy came in from patrol to find Dawn curled up on the sofa with a sleeping Spike, her head pillowed against his chest. "Shhh, don't wake him," Dawn whispered.
"Dawn - " Buffy hissed.
"It's not his fault, Buffy, I guilted him into keeping me company while you were at work. He told me to wake him up if he fell asleep so he could be out of here before you got back, but - he looked so beat - "
Buffy sighed. At least she appeared to be dealing with Sweet Dawn tonight, not Sullen Dawn. "Okay. What were you guys doing, anyway? Homework, I hope."
"Finished it hours ago. Spike's actually pretty good at that stuff, y'know. Smart." Buffy arched an eyebrow. "No, really - not just street-smart. Book-smart. Anyway, we've been watching Hong Kong chopsocky DVDs ever since." Dawn smiled. At least she seemed to be dealing with Rational Buffy, not Perpetual PMS Buffy.
Buffy nudged Dawn's feet back until her knees formed a peak and slumped down in the seat they'd just vacated. "Well, I'm always up for good chopsocky. What've we got on now?"
"Jet Li - " Dawn started to answer when Spike stirred.
Buffy braced herself. She never knew, on first waking, which Spike she'd get: sweet and romantic Spike, or bitter and defensive Spike - which was one of the many reasons she didn't want him around Dawn. As well as she knew Spike, she never could tell these days which way he'd jump.
"Whaa -" Spike rubbed his eyes, looking endearingly boyish and sleep-stupid. Focusing on Buffy, his spine stiffened. "Slayer. This isn't -"
"It's OKAY, Spike!" she cut him off. "You get a walk this time. We watching kung fu or what?"
He smiled and relaxed, and he and Dawn exchanged knowing looks. "So, Niblet, what'd I miss?"
Dawn cued the DVD back up to the beginning.
That night, Buffy had what had to be a prophecy dream. It was too vivid and uncomfortable to be anything else but.
In it, her real life got mixed up with the plot of the Jet Li movie they'd watched: An infinite number of Jet Lis, all with different characters and temperaments. An infinite number of Buffys, an infinite number of Spikes. All of them moving back and forth between dimensions, Jet Li trying to kill all the other hims so he could be the only one.
But instead of dreaming of the special effects they'd used in the movie, she dreamed about the vortex she'd jumped into at Glory's tower. The vortex that was going to split the barriers between dimensions, flood each reality into every other reality, and cause untold torment to everyone.
Jet Li had just flown away from the vortex on the back of a giant dragon when Buffy awoke, gasping, heart pounding.
"Of COURSE! I've got to call Giles..."
"Le-let me see if I understand this, Buffy. You suspect that the short time the vortex was open caused a-a-a sort of localized dimensional bleed-through effect? Possibly keyed to your cell structure?"
"Something like that. I flunked particle physics, y'know, Giles. But I think different versions of those of us closest to the vortex - me, Spike and Dawn - are slipping in and out of this dimension. It's the only thing I can come up with to explain the inconsistencies in all our behavior, Giles. We've turned into a bunch of Jekyll and Hydes here."
"I-I'll have to do some research, examine the scientific theory, consult with the Council..."
Buffy sighed. "Of course you will, Giles. Just get back to me as soon as possible, okay? Oh - and Giles?"
"Yes, dear?"
"When you talk to the Watcher's Council? Make sure they know who figured this out first."