Heya people. Thanks for the reviews, you guys are alright.

Nothing belongs to me and I hate admitting that. (sigh)

Two of a kind

Chapter 4

Buffy helped tidy up the Magic box after Angelus' disappearance. It took no time at all to return the place to its original state and Buffy felt as though she hadn't slept in a month by the end of it. Her hands shook from the encounter and she tried to keep them active so no one would notice. Dawn seemed to be sticking close by her and Buffy knew she was worried. The young girl had seen what had happened the last time Angelus had been around.

'I'm gonna take Dawn home,' Buffy informed the group. 'It's been a rough night and we both need sleep.' No one argued.

'I'll walk the both of you,' Riley offered, beginning to rise, but Buffy wasn't in the mood for company. Well, she amended, his company.

'No, Riley. I'd rather just see you tomorrow, okay?' She didn't care if it wasn't okay, Riley wasn't coming with them.

He protested but Giles stepped in to bat for her. 'Buffy is right. She and Dawn need some time alone right now. It is best if we let them be. We will see you in the morning, Buffy.'

Buffy nodded and went to say bye to Willow. The witch was preparing for the re- ensouling spell. 'Hey, Will,' Buffy said hoarsely.

Willow stopped what she was doing immediately. 'I sorry I wasn't quick enough but don't worry; I'll fix things. Are you okay?'

'He's back, Will. Angelus is back,' Buffy sank down against one of the unpacked crates. Willow sat beside her, a comforting hand on her arm. The witch was the only one Buffy could really talk to. Willow listened, really listened, and Buffy needed that right now.

'Oh, Buffy, I'm so sorry,' she comforted the broken hearted Slayer.

Buffy leant into the redhead, needing the support she offered. 'He's back. Angel must have… with… God, I can't even think it. How could he do that to me? I thought he loved me.'

Willow rubbed her back soothingly. 'You know he did Buffy, he always will. I, um, I don't think this was natural.'

Buffy's head came up so fast, she thought for a moment she may have achieved whiplash. 'What do you mean? How was it not natural?'

'I think someone may have removed Angel's soul on purpose.'

'On purpose?' she all but screeched. 'Who? Who would be that stupid?'

'I don't know. I'll do the re-ensouling spell and we'll figure it out…' Willow swore. 'I felt it when he came towards me; he reeked of something. It wasn't magic, exactly, but it was familiar. I'll figure it out, Buffy. Don't worry.'

Buffy smiled gratefully. If there was one person she could truly count on, it was her. 'Okay,' she stood up. 'I'm gonna take Dawn home. Let me know when you're ready to do the spell. I want to be there.'

'Of course. And, hey, maybe this time, no one will get hurt…' Willow said hopefully.

Buffy smiled sadly. 'That's never the case…'

Angel wandered down the streets of Sunnydale, relishing the feel of the sun on his head, shoulders, just… everywhere. He dawdled, happy to bathe in the warm glow. The huge smile on his face served as a trigger to the rest of the population as they smiled back at him as they passed. I guess what They say is true, it is infectious...

He noticed a sign for ice cream in one of the shops he passed and he figured a little pit stop before he reached Buffy wouldn't hurt him. The wind blew gently across his face, giving some relief from the relentless heat. Angel couldn't have been happier. Well, he could have if he had Buffy by his side.

He paid for his ice cream -strawberry- and left the parlor happily licking away at the melting treat. He savored the burst of flavor on his tongue, appreciated the treat for what it was, why people, especially women, found it the answer to some of life's problems…

His hands were a sticky mess when he finally finished gorging and he had half a mind to go back for a second, but decided seeing Buffy was more important. Things like ice cream were better in moderation anyway.

He found a small park with a water fountain in it and proceeded to wash his hands. As he washed, he contemplated the fact that the park- for the middle of the day with the perfect kind of weather- was completely deserted. His trained gaze surveyed the area, not noticing anything out of the ordinary. Dread was growing in his gut.

A shadow fell across him and the feeling of dread intensified further. He spun around, braced for a fight only to hit the ground as his legs were swept out from under him. He frowned, disgusted with himself. Five minutes human and already he's getting his ass kicked. What would the others say?

Angel craned his head to look at his attacker and found a rather large and very foul smelling demon. It smelled of rotting fish and Angel thanked whoever was listening that he was not a vampire anymore. As hard as the smell was on his human nose, it would have been almost unbearable for his vampire nose. Unlucky for him, though, while he'd been a vampire, breathing hadn't been required. Being a human did have its limitations.

'The boss wants to see you,' the demon rasped. Without further ado, it picked the former vampire up by the ankle and unceremoniously carried him out of the park.

Buffy sat out on the back porch, enjoying the sunlight for as long as she could. It was her way of warding of the night, warding off the time when she knew Angelus would reappear, ready to cause havoc yet again. It seemed like high school all over again.

The wind blew strands of hair across her face and she idly swept them away, tucking them behind her ear for anchorage.

She'd thought long and hard about Angel and Angelus while she'd been sitting there. Who had Angel found happiness with? Or, if Willow was correct, who had been stupid enough to remove Angel's soul? Buffy's money was on Cordelia on both fronts. She had no idea why, it was just her gut instinct and Buffy had learnt long ago to trust her instincts.

The back door opened and Buffy felt, rather than heard, Dawn come to sit beside her. She wrapped an arm about the girl and pulled her close.

'Buffy?' Dawn said after a few quiet moments.

'Yeah?'

'Is everything going to be okay or is someone going to die again?' she asked with wide eyes. Buffy realised how hard this was hitting Dawn. When Angel had been here, Dawn had idolised him the way she now idolised Riley. Then he had killed Jenny and it was only later that she understood why.

'No one's going to die, Dawn,' Buffy promised. She hoped with ever fiber of her being it was a promise she would keep. 'We'll stop him. We have to.' She wasn't prepared to lose anyone else.

Dawn leant further into the embrace and Buffy squeezed her lightly. 'Is Giles gonna be okay?'

Buffy had wondered the same thing. 'I hope so, Dawnie. I hope so.'

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