One Little Slip

One slip is all it took. One minute I was fighting with Riley, the next I was tumbling down the stairs. As I fell I saw Angel. He wasn't there a minute ago, was he?

"Angel!" I could barley let out as I kept falling down the stairs.

I landed in Angel's awaiting arms. He was concerned and very mad at Riley who was still standing at the top of the stairs and didn't even dare to help me.

"Buffy, you've been spending every minute of free time slaying or at the Magic Box. I am always the last thing on your mind. I never come first. You never tell me what's going on and when I try to help you freak out on me for being nosy. I can't be with you if you are like this. I can't do it. Buffy, you have to choose either to have me as your boyfriend or being the slayer. It's your choice, them or me. I can't be with the slayer. You can't ever give me your attention for more than a couple hours. You've been so secretive lately. You always go out, you think I don't notice but I do. I've always noticed." He said when we stopped in the hallway that leads to the top of the stairs.

"That is SOO not fair Riley. I am the slayer. It's who I am. I don't get a choice in being the slayer. I never got to choose Riley, your not giving me a choice either, your telling me to either choose between my boyfriend and what's in my blood. How can you even think of such a thing? It's in my blood Riley, and I can't choose what's in my blood. It's just something that's part of me and as much I would love to I can't change that. Don't make me choose between being with you and saving the world, no matter how many times I have to die for it. I thought that you loved me for who I am, slayer included. I guess I was wrong." I said to him as I stood at the top of the stairs.

"Buffy." He said darkly as he grabbed my arm.

"Riley, let go. I'm not in the mood for this, Riley." I yelled trying to yank my arm free.

"Buffy, choose me. Choose me." He said gripping my arm tighter. He turned, so I was right in front of the sidewall. He put his hand around my neck and lifted me off the ground.

"Riley! Riley, stop, stop, that hurts, Ah!" I screamed with all my might.

I could feel my arm bruising and my neck was going to hurt badly for a while. I would have bet that I probably would have a bruise shaped like his hand around my neck.

"Buffy, you are not going to choose vampires over me. I won't let you." He said raising me higher.

"I am." I said with the last bit of air I had. I kicked him right in the ribs; it was bad aim and wouldn't hurt as much as my intended target but it should give me the same result.

He dropped his arm around my neck and the other around my arm. I didn't feel too bad for him. He'd have maybe at the most a cracked rib. I couldn't think of hurting Riley typically, but I had to do it so I could get away and tell the gang.

I fell to the floor and kept falling. I tumbled down the stairs. I thought I was dreaming when I saw him. My angel had returned, and had perfect timing, like usual. I smashed my head on the railing felt a warm liquid trickle down my face.

"Get away from her!" Riley yelled at Angel as Angel brushed some hair out of my face.

"Boy! Don't tell me what the hell to do. You are the reason she's almost dead. I have to get her to a hospital. She's lost a lot of blood. I suggest you leave town before she wakes up." Angel said hastily.

"Why should I ever listen to you, your just a harmless vampire. I mean what are you going to do, eat me? Oh, that's right, you don't even drink human blood. You're better than that."

" I have to take her to the Emergency Room, before she dies. If she does, it's on your head. I don't think Ripper will like that very much. Who am I to judge though, I just heard your whole fight and I was going to let her beat your ass, unfortunately that didn't work out quite like I would have hopped." Angel said staring Riley down.

Angel stood up with me in his arms and he ran to the hospital, the sun had gone down and the dark was starting to rise in Sunnydale. Angel was going to call Giles, he still remembered his number and hoped that he or someone would be home.

He arrived at the hospital with Buffy in his arms and he yelled that he needed help. He had to say that he didn't know what happened other than she fell down the stairs. He also told the police that her boyfriend Riley hurt her and she was telling him to stop.

"Giles!" Angel said hopeful that Angel answered his phone.

"Sorry, he's not home right now. Can I take a message for him?" Willow said into the phone.

"Willow? Is that you?" Angel asked wondering who answered Giles's phone.

"Yes, who is this? Can I take a message for Giles?" Willow asked so confused.

"Willow, it's Angel. Do you know where Giles is?" Angel said with anxiousness in his voice.

"Yeah, he's at the Magic Box. What's wrong?" She asked picking up on his attitude.

"It's Buffy. Cordy had a vision of Buffy hurt. I went over to her house and Riley and Buffy were fighting. I didn't want to barge in; I made my presence known when she fell down the stairs. Willow stay away from Riley. He's dangerous. Call Xander and Joyce tell them to come quick. I'm at the hospital. I'm here with Buffy; they won't let me see her though. I'm worried Willow. She's lost a lot of blood, she hit her head on the railing." He said clarifying that it wasn't like last time he was here.

"We'll be there soon. Everything's going to be okay Angel. Don't worry, Buffy's strong she'll get though this." Willow said trying not to panic.