Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. They belong to Joss. Please don't sue.
Author's note: This is written in script form. I hate reading fan fictions in script form but for some reason it's all I can write in. Sorry.
This story takes place after the events of BTVS:S3 "Beauty and the Beasts"
Recovery
Buffy sat and watched Angel sleep through another nightmare. It had been the third one he had that night, and it didn't look like it was ending any time soon. She longed to go over to him and ease his suffering, but she knew that he had to deal with the nightmares by himself. He had recognized her, and that meant that he would get better in time. He had to. His eyes suddenly opened and he searched around wildly with his eyes to find her. She came over to him and grabbed his face with her hands.
Buffy:
"I'm right here, Angel. I didn't go anywhere."
He calmed down almost immediately.
Buffy:
"You should go back to sleep."
When they arrived back at the mansion earlier she had tried to convince him to sleep in his bed, but he refused and he asleep on the floor in front of fireplace.
Buffy:
"How 'bout we take you into your bedroom? You'll be more comfortable."
She hated seeing him lying on the floor. He was a man, not some animal. He looked so cold and hurt lying on the cold stone floor like that.
Angel:
"Buffy."
Buffy:
"That's right. Buffy. Let's go into the bedroom. Come on."
She grabbed his hands and pulled. Bringing him to a sitting position and finally on his feet. They slowly made their way to the bedroom. The bedroom was remarkably darker than the main living area, and it took time for her eyes to adjust to the new surroundings. She turned and found Angel looking around. She led him to the bed where she sat down. Angel remained standing. He was tense, and looked around the room as if someone or something would jump out and hurt him.
Buffy:
"Its okay, Angel. Nothing will hurt you here. I won't let it. Sit down."
He looked at her and the bed skeptically.
Buffy:
"It's okay. It's just the bed. You remember, right?"
Angel still looked around not really trusting her or this new room. He couldn't remember much of anything, except that Buffy equaled good and that he was safe with Buffy.
Angel:
"Buffy."
She'd been watching him as he looked around the room, and hoped he didn't freak out.
Buffy:
"Yes. Now you should lie down."
She gently pushed on his side, and he went tumbling down. She got up to put his feet on the bed , but he grabbed onto her arm. Holding onto it like a vise. She looked into his eyes and saw, for the first time, fear. She stroked his face with her hand.
Buffy:
"It's okay. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."
She put his feet up on the bed, and covered him up with the sheets and comforter.
Buffy:
"See, isn't that better?"
He stared back at her, and didn't reply.
Buffy:
"You sleep."
She started to go over to the chair next to the bed, but again he grabbed onto her.
Buffy:
"Okay, I'll lay down with you, but you have to sleep."
She laid down next to him.
Buffy:
"You need to sleep."
She gathered him in her arms and rubbed his back gently easing him into a peaceful sleep.
Scene: Mansion Bedroom (Morning)
When Buffy awoke Angel was not in the bed with her. She looked around the room frantically. He was no where to be found. She walked around the room slowly checking over every place he might be. She knew he wouldn't have left the room without her. She noticed that the closet door was slightly open. She approached it slowly, and when she opened it she found what she was looking for. Angel. Sitting in the corner with his legs pulled to his chest and his head down on his knees, shaking. She approached him carefully so she wouldn't startle him.
Buffy:
"Angel?"
He didn't even look up.
Buffy:
"Angel, it's Buffy."
She came and sat down next to him.
Buffy:
"Did you have a bad dream?"
She put an arm around his shoulders.
Buffy:
"It's okay. I'm here and I won't let anything hurt you."
He was still shaking, but she noticed that he was crying. In that quiet way that he did. She had seen Angel cry on very few occasions. He was always the strong, stoic one out of the group. It showed her just how badly he was hurt while trapped in Hell.
Buffy:
"It's okay. Shh…it's okay."
She rocked him back and forth and he slowly stopped went still.
Buffy:
"Let's go back to bed, okay? You have to rest and heal."
He still wouldn't move from the corner he was occupying. Buffy stood up to get some blankets and pillows for him. She returned and laid the pillows down next to him while she wrapped one of the blankets around his shoulders.
Buffy:
"You can lie down if you want."
At least it was better than on the stone floor in the main room. The bedroom and closet were carpeted. She took the rest of the blankets and made a small bed for him to lie down on. Hopefully it would be comfortable. She pushed him to lie down, and soon his head was resting on the pillows. He looked up at her, and she saw the fear in his eyes.
Buffy:
"Its okay, Angel."
She stroked his hair.
Buffy:
"Sleep."
He still hadn't lost the fear he had in his eyes.
Buffy:
"Just close your eyes. I'm not going anywhere."
He blinked at her as if he was trying to understand her.
Buffy:
"You won't get hurt here. Now, close your eyes."
It took her a good twenty minutes to get him to relax and at least close his eyes, but he finally drifted off to sleep.