Buffy looked up as Daniel strode angrily into her office. He shut the door and found a chair to sit in. “Can I help you?” She asked.
“I just… I need to hide in here for a while,” he said, shifting restlessly in the chair.
“Problems in paradise?”
“It’s not paradise,” he snapped. “That woman is, is a menace! She has no respect for me or the work I do.”
"I think you’re overreacting.”
"I am not!” He cried, jumping to his feet and beginning to pace. “It’s her fault that I’m here and not on Atlantis. She’s the one who bonded us together to go on her little ‘treasure hunt’. And now those stupid bracelets are off and we’re still linked.”
“Ah.”
“Every moment with her is like nails on a chalkboard. She’s uncouth, vulgar, and completely proud of it. Since she’s been here I’ve been in one predicament or another.”
Buffy couldn’t help it. She laughed.
“What?”
“Did you ever consider the possibility that the bond is still there because you want it?”
"That’s preposterous!” He sputtered.
“Really? I think she’s made your life exciting so you unconsciously found a way to keep her around.”
He made several attempts to speak before giving up and grunting derisively. He turned and headed to the door.
“Going back to your bondmate?”
"I’m going to visit Mitchell. He’s at least sympathetic.”
After he left, Buffy muttered to herself, “Not as much as you think.”
