"Hello? I don't need to stay in here all night," Buffy pouted. Only to lead into another coughing fit.
"Oh, yeah. I can see that."
Buffy grabbed the small cup of water from the bedside table and did her best to calm down. "And what the hell are you still doing here? I thought you weren't going to be all flying in to save me anymore, Superman."
"I didn't say that. And geez, cranky much?"
"Yeah, well, how about you let me tell you exactly where you can go and shove that crank," she started, only to hush when a doctor knocked on the door before coming inside.
"Well, don't you sound better," she said as she looked at her then through a few pages of her folder.
"I am. So how about I get my clothes and you let me go home?"
"I might if there was someone you could have at home with you to check on you... I don't feel safe with you going home alone in your condition."
"Oh, no worries there. I have someone," she said quickly and ignored the look Angel shot her.
"Okay..." she started slowly, her eyes narrowing. She made a few notes on the file and scrawled her name before patting Buffy on the foot. "I want you to go see your family physician in a week, just for a check up though."
"Not a problem. I will even make the appointment tomorrow."
"I will started your discharge papers so you can go home."
"Great! I appreciate it!"
OoOoO
"Liar," Angel said as the doctor finally left.
"I am not," she scoffed.
"Are too," he said then studied her. "If you're not, then just who are you going to have stay with you?"
"A friend," she took another sip of water. "What's it to you?"
"Well, I did save your life today, for the second time, so maybe I feel obligated to keep an eye on you now. Or maybe it's because my doorman, one Wesley Wyndam-Pryce thinks you have a great rack," he said then started laughing as she stared at him in shock. And blushing. "So who?"
"A friend," she repeated. "Now why don't you get out of here so I can get dressed huh?"
Angel started to open his mouth to answer her, but then the door opened once more, some strange man came storming in.
"Oh, goodness! Buffy! Are you alright?"
"Yeah. The doctor even said I can go home. Really, I'm fine Giles," she sat up then glared at Angel.
"You do know I sent you there for a story, not to die from smoke inhalation!"
"She saved a woman and her daughter," Angel spoke up, unsure as to why he was helping to defend the girl.
"Wonderful! Buffy, where's my story?"
"Well God! If you would both get out of here, I would get dressed then be more than happy write the damn thing!" She then pointed to the door.
Giles turned, finally noticing Angel really. "And who is this?" he asked.
"Ugh! Detective Liam Angelus, this is Rupert Giles, my editor and boss. Now, get out!"
"Fine, fine, we are going!"
They started to leave, Giles opening the door open for Angel to come out. "You know, she is one hell of a writer, truly, but not much in the way of manners," he said, making Angel chuckle.
"Ugh!" Buffy groaned at them then slipped out of bed to grab her clothing. "I need some less annoying men in my life," she mumbled out loud.
OoOoO
Buffy got dressed then sat at the end of the bed, waiting to sign papers when the nurse came in. "Wow, smells like a few fire alarms in here," she said as she held out a stack of papers.
After they were signed, she wheeled Buffy out in a wheelchair, despite all of her protests. Some nonsense about hospital policy and all.
"Your chariot awaits," Angel said, holding out the door to the cab he'd had waiting for her.
"You!" she groaned and dropped her head to her hands. "Why, God, why?"
"What? Expecting your other prince to be here waiting for you?" he chuckled. "Come on now, Buff. We can share a cab and this way I won't have to worry about you getting home."
Buffy stood up and grabbed her purse then turned. She quickly thanked the nurse then walked past Angel and pulled out her cell phone. She hit one of the speed dial buttons only before it was yanked out of her hand. "Hey!" she said turning.
"Yellow Cab?" Angel read. "Now why would you want to call them when I have one waiting right here for you already? Is this anyway for you to be treating the man who saved your life? Multiple times now at that!"
"Fine!" she growled then walked back to the cab to get in.
Angel gave the driver directions to her place and sat quietly beside her. Instead of saying anything, he just reached out and wrapped his fingers with hers and pulled her hand against his leg. She stiffened at first but then he did nothing more, so she couldn't protest.
Her mind was spinning with images of earlier. The flames and smoke, the roar of the fire, the panting coughs, that woman and her baby. Just thinking about it made it harder and harder to breath.
She knew she must have made some kind of sound or face because Angel wrapped his arm around her shoulder and scooted closer to her. His head came down to rest on the top of hers. "It's okay, Buffy. You're safe," he whispered.
OoOoO
Buffy didn't protest when he paid the driver, nor when he followed her into the building and into the elevator. He took the keys from her and unlocked the door with a word. He got her inside then lifted her chin, studying her.
"Go take a shower. I'll wait here until you're out. Then I'll leave and let you rest alright?"
"I have to write a story."
"Fine, but the shower comes first. You'll feel better, I promise. And I will leave as soon as you are done."
She nodded and let him follow her deeper into her apartment. She kicked off her shoes and dropped her purse. "I... I'll only be a few minutes. Um... just make yourself at home," she said then walked off.
She could feel his eyes following her.
OoOoO
She hurried through the shower, scrubbing off the scent of smoke in her hair and off of her skin. And she felt ten times better when she was done. She threw on another big tee shirt and some small shorts to put under it and dumped her smoked clothes into a huge plastic bag.
She was brushing her hair when she came back into the living room.
Angel looked up, his eyes trailing over her locks and rosy cheeks. The soft fabric clinging to her curves. And looking into her eyes, he knew she could see and feel his heat in her own.
"Um... thank you," she said. "I do feel much better now."
"You look it, too," he said, his eyes dropping once more to the curve of her breasts and smiled when he saw her shiver and her nipples harden a bit.
"Okay. Well, thanks. Thanks for staying and everything. I am fine now and I'm going to write my story from here and send it on in... after a few phone calls and research."
Angel looked at his watch, knowing then if he left then he would have enough time to make it to the courthouse still. But, the funny thing was, he really didn't want to leave. "Promise me that you won't get into anymore trouble. At least not until I get out of my court appearance huh?" he teased.
"I'll do my best," she said as he stood then she followed him to the door.
She opened it then leaned on it. And, without thinking, Angel lifted his hands, his palm caressing her cheek. He bent his head and his mouth found hers. "I'll be in touch," he whispered.
She just nodded and watched as he left.
She closed the door then slid down against it, her fingers tracing her mouth where he had just been. She breathed out a huge sigh and closed her eyes. "Liam Angelus. You are going to be trouble."
OoOoO
It took Buffy ten phone calls and a few hours to get the info she needed about the fire. She talked to her contacts down at city hall and had to call in a favor, but she finally had all she needed. The fire was an arson and was connected by some signature to six others in the area. The buildings were apartment complexes, every one full of families, innocent people, all who lost everything they owned and loved because of some psycho who liked playing with matches.
Buffy wrote her story, trying to stay as centered as she could. Though, it was hard to not let her own personal feelings get in the way, but after some editing, she sent it to Giles, sending him a note of thanks for visiting her at the hospital as well.
By the time she finished, she was tired. She knew she almost died earlier and just thinking about it had the smell of smoke choking her and the heat pressing her skin.
Her hand went to her mouth and her fingers shook as she slid down the sofa. "Oh God," she cried softly.
She reached down to her purse, remembering seeing Angel oh so slyly stick a card in there earlier. She grabbed it and dialed the number that was on the front of it and wrapped her other arm around her body, holding herself tightly.
OoOoO
The phone rang and rang and rang. She was just about give up when she heard the voice on the other end.
"Hello?" he said, sounding husky, as if he'd just been woken up.
She glanced at the clock, surprised as seeing just how late it was now.
"Hello?" he asked again.
"Oh, uh, hi... there. Sorry if I woke you," she said feeling stupid and rather embarrassed.
"Buffy?" he asked, sounding surprised.
"Yeah, uh, hi, it's me. I... um... damnit... Look, I'm sorry. This was stupid. I'm sorry that I woke you."
"Buff! Don't hang up. Please. What's wrong?"
"It's stupid," she sighed. "I just... I was..."
"...having flashbacks of today?" he asked finishing for her.
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"It was a scary event, Buff. You'd be a pretty cold and hard person to not have suffered any from it."
Buffy sighed. "It's driving me crazy. I think about it... and then it's like I'm there all over again. I can feel the heat and smell it and everything." A sob caught her throat.
"I'm coming over there," he said and she heard the sound of him rustling about.
"What? No. You don't have to do that."
There was silence on the line, but then his voice came back, sounding even more husky then before. "Fifteen minutes," he said then she heard the click of the phone.