Farewell Scooter
By Sha

Title: Scooter's farewell  
Author: Sha  
Disclaimer: I don't own the character's and I never truly owned the dog, she owned my heart.  
Rating: G or PG  
Summary: I'm feeling the pain of loss of my baby and best friend on four legs. This is for her. She deserved more but this is all I can give her now.  

Notes: I know she was "just" a dog, but she was also my protector, friend and baby. I miss her terrible and know that it will fade but her memory will always be there. Please forgive my melancholy and allow me this last small farewell.  

Notes 2: This story loosely follows 'Are You An Angel?'

Scooter- 8-10-98 ~ 12-31-99  

  "Mr. Giles, you're needed at home right away. An emergency requires your attention there."  

"Buffy!"   Dread racing through his body, Giles rushed from his office at the museum to his car in the parking lot.   Breaking all speed limits, he made it home in under ten minutes, thoughts of what could be wrong fueling him every step of the way.   He and Buffy had been married just over a year, their relationship brought out in the open and moved up by her near death shooting. After she had awakened from her coma, he had kept his promise and worn leather pants to the wedding.   The others had merely snickered while silently admiring his courage, (and how nice he looked in the tight pants). Buffy had fallen in love all over again.   Shaking himself from his thoughts, Giles pulled up to his curb, tires squealing.   His alarm tripled seeing two police cars pulling away with their lights and sirens running. Running past a few lingering officers and a man in a white coat, Giles rushed through the front door in search of Buffy.

  He found her in their bedroom, on the floor bent over the limp form of her dog, Scooter.   After Buffy had been released from the hospital those two years back, she had been put on a months bed rest.No slaying, or anything else for that matter.   So the gang had gone out and bought her a six week old Jack Russell Terrier puppy to keep her company and as still as possible.   Buffy had named her Scooter that same day and the two had become fast friends.

  Scooter was only 9 and 1/2 inches tall,full grown and weighed eight pounds. But, what she lacked for in size, she more than made up for in spirit.

  She willingly and relentlessly protected Buffy against any foe. Be it that pesky mouse in the cupboard or the pit bull next door.She didn't know the meaning of fear. She was also a lady. A true lady. She would beg silently and give in easily. She never chewed on things she wasn't supposed to and always knew when extra love was needed.

  And now she was dead. Gone.

  "Oh Buffy, I'm so sorry love.What happened?"   Silent, thick tears ran down the tiny Slayer's face as she looked up at her husband. The emptiness and pain so clearly etched upon her facial features caused another stab of pain in Giles heart.   Voice dull and cracking, Buffy quietly told him about Scooter's passing.

  "I came home from classes early because I wasn't feeling good again. I came through the front door and Scooter was in her crate, having a terrible fit. I let her out and she raced for our bedroom. I knew something was up, so I dialed 911 and followed her." Swallowing hard, Buffy took a breath before continuing. "When I got there, a man was standing in the middle of the room, your crystal bowl in hand. H-he dropped the bowl, pulled out a knife and I before I could do anything Scooter launched herself at him. She b-bit him and he stabbed her. He stabbed her and threw her at me. She never whimpered, never made one sound. Oh Giles, what am I going to do without her?"   Gathering his wife and dog in his arms, Giles had no words of comfort. Just the warmth and love of his entire being to ease the pain, if only a bit.

  Wiping tears from Buffy's cheeks, he softly suggested,"what say we prepare her a special ceremony and place her in the back yard, under our favorite tree. Such a wonderful friend-family member deserves that at least. Then tomorrow, I'll go and get a rose bush and we'll plant it over her grave."

  Standing with the small body still cradled in her arms, Buffy walked out of the bedroom, down the stairs and out the back door.

  As the sun shined brightly down and the wind gently blew the tree's leaves the man and wife placed their beloved Scooter in the ground.   When the last pile of dirt had been replaced, one perfect,crystal like tear rolled out of Buffy's eye, rolled down her nose and fell on top of the grave of the sweetest,bravest dog the two would ever know.   Goodbye Scooter, you will always be loved.

The End

Scooter didn't die in this manner, but her bravery is still incomparable. Her burial was much like this though, and Monday a pink rose bush will adorn her resting place.