A/N: HAHA!! This is another long chapter for you. All the action and the drama! How exciting!!! Tell me what you think. Please review!
Chapter 6
The Scoobies all sat down around the table watching a video. Buffy is sitting in the middle of the room staring at the sheet. Her eyes were projecting the fight between her and the ninja from her point of view. Buffy walked into the room from behind the others. She said in disgust, "Eh, I hope you can get something out of the Buffybot! You guys know how much that thing creeps me out. Especially what it was built for."
"I second that motion," Angel announced. Buffy smiled and then joined the group and sat on Angel's lap. Her arm was in a sling.
"I understand, but it was the best option. Maybe it will help us figure out what's going on." Willow had to think positively. Then, it came onto the screen. Buffybot had stabbed the ninja in the gut, and the video showed that the ninja pulled his mask off. Out popped the face of Ethan.
The Buffybot's voice called out exclaiming, "No, NO!" When she fainted, Ethan got up and sprinkled the perimeter with something. He then pulled the knife out and ran away.
"It's true," Giles whispered.
"He's alive," Buffy evenly stated.
Angel touched her shoulder from behind. "You didn't kill him. That's a load off your shoulders." Buffy touched his hand, and looked him in the eyes, agreeing.
"So Ethan's behind this. Should have figured," Xander stated almost beating himself up. "So now what?"
Willow replied, "We should probably figure out what he's doing."
"Willow," said Buffy, "look up the black market or any other mystical store in Rome that would have an item relating to nightmares and the side effects of fever." Willow nodded. "We need to get into Ethan's head, figure out how to play his game. We can then play on the offense and defense. Maybe this time we can get him stuck behind bars for good."
"Should we call Riley and the other Initiative people?" asked Xander.
Buffy shook her head. "I don't want to inform them until we know we can stop him. They might attempt to screw up our plans and take over the situation."
Angel said, "Besides, The Initiative guys won't know any background on Ethan's attack or even his past with us, so they might get hurt. I know we don't like them anymore than a demon, but they are still innocent."
"Where is Spike at the moment? He should be really busy researching with us," Giles asked.
"No clue, but I'm sure he's busy helping the cause by doing something," Buffy said. Thank God that something isn't Dawn. Buffy paused after that thought, kicking herself for the newly unwanted image engraved into her brain. "Everyone get to work, I'll go and update Faith. We need help from the older slayers. The new watchers can get on board and help us with research; Giles can use it to test their knowledge." Buffy got up and walked out of the room.
"Angel, maybe you should stay close behind her," suggested Giles.
Angel asked, "You're getting that feeling too?"
"Yes, and knowing Ethan, this was either part of the plan or if not, he's going to know we know he's still alive soon." Angel was already out the door before Giles finished the second half of his sentence.
Willow stated, "She should be safer now. Angel is the best back-up for Buffy."
"I don't know if anyone could be a great enough back-up at this point," Giles muttered.
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Buffy walked up the stairs. She saw a shadow move at the top of the stairs. She called out, "Whoever is there, show yourself." Out popped Ethan Rayne. "I should have known. I bet you had this all planned out. Didn't you!" Buffy sounded pissed.
"Excuse me, Buffy. Is there something wrong?" he asked, concern filled his voice.
This is not what Buffy wanted to hear. "Don't be nice to me after all you've done. You're the one who's ruining my life."
"Buffy, are you alright? You might want to sit down and relax."
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Angel looked up from behind a wall. He saw Buffy talking to Vi. What's she doing?
"That's it. You can attempt to take everything away from me, but you will never win, Ethan." When Angel heard the name Ethan come out of her mouth, and then the words, "I'm done with you!" he knew there was a problem.
"Buffy, don't do anything!" exclaimed Angel, but it was too late. All of the fear and anger that was built up in Buffy was finally released. She started attacking Vi. Angel knew better than to get between Buffy and her opponent. He ran to get Faith. When he passed Buffy on the stairs, he noticed that her pupils were dilated and her iris was swallowed up and gone. She didn't notice Angel walk by, so he continued to get Faith.
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"Help, somebody help!" Ethan screamed in a panicked voice.
Buffy said through gritted teeth, "When will you learn, nobody can help you. No actually, nobody will help you." Suddenly, her sight was flickering. She kept getting images back and forth of that Vi was in Ethan's spot. His every movement was hers. Buffy stopped. "What the hell?" Ethan kicked her backwards into the railings. Buffy flipped up onto her feet. She round house kicked Ethan in the face. She caught the sight of Vi flying into the wall. What's going on here? Suddenly, out of nowhere, her sight stopped flickering. Ethan disappeared and what remained was Vi lying on the floor unconscious. Everyone seemed to rush into the room at that moment. Buffy rushed over to Vi and knelt beside her. She turned Vi over onto her back. "Vi, wake up, please," Buffy begged, realizing what she had just done. She checked the unconscious slayer's pulse. It was weak, but there. "Giles!" she called out to him.
Giles rushed up to care for Vi. "Bring her into the room. We will take care of her from there." Some of the newer slayers helped to get her into room.
Buffy slowly backed away, her hand covering up her mouth. She caught Angel into the corner of her eye. She ran over to him. He took a hold of her and held her tight. She had her face buried into his chest, the tears rolling down her cheek and soaking his shirt. "Oh Angel, what have I done?" she sobbed.
"Hey, I doubt it's all your fault. I think whatever is infecting you is making you see these things."
She looked up at him. Her face was red and puffy from her tears. "How do you know?"
"When the fight started, I went to get Faith to stop it. I passed you and you didn't even take notice to me. Then, I saw that your pupil took over your entire eye, like what happens to Willow when she casts. I don't think it's all you." He kissed her forehead. "Come on; let's get you out of the crowd." He showed her the way downstairs.
Buffy walked down with her head hanging low. She noticed that the walk down was very lonely. Angel was the only one close to her. Every slayer or watcher she passed was getting out of her way so fast, as if she was going to lash out at any random person. She turned to Angel. "Maybe you should go back and help the others. I'm fine."
"Are you sure? I don't mind staying with you."
"Go ahead. I don't want to be a burden."
He gave Buffy the 'are you kidding me' look. "Buffy, you're not a-" She put a finger to his lips.
"Look, I just need to be alone and me hanging around obviously isn't helping," she whispered motioning to the crowd. She took a hold of his hand and gave him and unconvincing smirk. "I'll be okay." She let go of his hand and dashed towards the fitness center.
Angel frowned as he saw Buffy running away from the world. He was slowly losing her from his grasp. Is Buffy okay? asked a familiar voice in the back of Angel's head. He turned to see Willow staring at him.
He telepathically sent her a message back. No. I'm getting further and further away from her. She distancing herself away from me and it's getting harder to reach her.
I'm getting very worried.
I can't agree more. We need to keep a more watchful eye on her now.
Willow nodded in response.
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Buffy was just sitting against the wall in the fitness room, staring off into space. "You are quite the annoying opponent. Can't you just go poof?" Buffy stated.
"Now Buffy, what's the fun of good versus evil if the opponent just goes poof. That's not a very well thought out war," said Ethan.
She rose from her sorrow on the floor. "What if one side doesn't want war? What if one side doesn't even want to fight?" Buffy stated with the passion burning in her eyes, tears threatening to fall out of them.
"There's a difference between want and need. A want involves the ability to control and believe. A need is desperate and chaotic." He just stood there crossing his arms. "You may not want to fight, but you need to. It's just the way the life of a slayer was meant to be. You need to keep fighting in order to save yourself and the world."
"Okay, when did you go all Yoda and why on me?" Ethan didn't reply. "So, you ready to fight?" she asked.
Ethan grinned. "I thought you'd never ask." He threw a punch towards her face. She blocked the punch, then twisted her arm around his and flipped him over to the ground. She put her foot on his mid section. "Ya done yet?" she asked overconfidently. He quickly grabbed her ankle and grabbed her ankle and threw her backwards into the punching bag. She was on her knees on the ground. He walked up to her and hoisted her up by her hair. He bashed her into the swinging bag and then threw her into the wall.
Ethan turned away from her and waved, "Ta ta, my dear."
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Buffy was awoken by Faith staring her in the face. "B, you okay?" she asked Buffy.
Buffy stated, "I think so?" some confusion in her voice.
"Dreamin' again, huh?" Faith asked. Buffy just had to nod. "He showed up again, didn't he?"
"Oh yeah, guest appearance and all. He even went all Yoda on me and said something intelligent and sensible."
"Wow, you really were dreaming!"
"And yet something tells me it wasn't a genuine dream. It was too realistic." Buffy shakes her head. "I have a feeling he was here again."
"Probably," Faith agreed, "but we'll get him, don't worry."
"How is Vi?"
"She's okay, but it's weird. Her injuries weren't healing as fast as the average slayer, but then like ten minutes later, they were almost completely gone."
Something hit Buffy just then. Her eyes went wide. "Are all of the scars gone?"
"Last I knew, yeah."
"I need to see her NOW!" Buffy took off up the stairs, Faith not too far behind.
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Buffy runs up the grand staircase in the lobby heading for Vi's room. Angel notices her and watches her pass him into the room. "What's going on?" he asked.
"Couldn't tell ya if I tried," Faith replied.
"I knew it!" Buffy exclaimed.
"What is it?" asked Angel.
"I know I 'attacked' Vi, but these more obvious facial injuries didn't come from me. I didn't have a blade of any sort and these here," Buffy pointed at the scratches on Vi's face and arms, "are definitely blade slices."
"So, what do you think?" asked Faith.
"I think Ethan learned a new trick," stated Buffy.
"Wow! Can't believe we didn't realize this. What are we going to do now?" Angel asked.
"Well essentially, research then stop Ethan. Something tells me Ethan is behind all of this," replied Buffy.
Willow walked into the room. "Guys, Kennedy isn't looking so good." They rushed into Kennedy's room. She was pale. "I'm so worried, I can't find anything for her, and for all we know, she could only have minutes left." Willow struggled to hold back tears.
Buffy walked up and put a hand on her best friend's shoulder. "Will, it will be okay. They want a sick slayer, they are gonna get one." Buffy turned to Faith. "If anything happens, you will know what to do." Faith was about to 'what,' but Buffy moved to Angel. She looked at him, then smiled and put a hand to his cheek. "Angel, my Angel, you are so sweet."
Buffy knew he knew her plan. He said, "No, you-"
She touched his lips with a finger and the silenced him with a light kiss. She broke and looked up at him. "You know I have to," she whispered sadly. He just nodded, but he wouldn't let her go. She pulled his hands off her and his arms fell to his side. He turned away, not wanting to witness her next move. With his back facing against the wall, Angel silently allowed tears to fill his eyes. He would not, however, let them fall free.
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Buffy broke free of Angel and walked towards Kennedy. She turned to look at her friends; her loved ones. "I love you guys," she stated in an even voice, tears in her eyes.
Willow asked, "Buffy, what-" then it hit her like a two by four to the head, "Buffy, NO!" she exclaimed. She then felt herself being pulled out the door. "No!" Willow shrieked, trying to fight against Buffy's magic.
Buffy shook her head and said, "No Will. You lost Tara because of me. I'm not letting the same thing happen to Kennedy." With that, Buffy willed a very strong barrier around her and Kennedy.
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Buffy what are you doing?" Faith yelled.
"She's taking in the disease that's Kennedy possesses. She might kill herself doing it though," Willow explained.
"She can't!" Faith exclaimed, running towards the barrier.
Angel grabbed her around the waist. "You can't interfere," he yelled at Faith.
"How can you just stand there and let her do this?" Faith felt like beating on Angel.
"I have to," Angel whispered in despair, sadness filling him. Faith stopped fighting him and looked at him. "Buffy's too independent for even me to convince her to change her mind. Either way, I trust her to make the right decision. I have to." Faith looked at him, pure admiration reflecting in her eyes.
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Buffy looked at her friends. You are the most important people to me, but innocents come first. She turned to the unconscious Kennedy. "You will be home soon, Ken; safe and sound. Let's test this so called magic." She put a hand on Kennedy's head and chest. Buffy started to recite Latin. Wow, this is so natural, like it was meant to be this way. Buffy felt a tear fall from her eye as she continued to speak the Latin phrases. Buffy spoke louder and more confident. Her friends watched in awe at the sight. Willow attempted to fight the barrier, but it was an unsuccessful. When Buffy completed the spell, light came out of Kennedy, controlled by Buffy's movement. She took the light and placed it into herself. The light fully claimed Buffy's body when she was thrown into the wall and landed face down unconscious. The barrier broke open. Angel ran in to reach his Buffy.
Willow reached Kennedy and lightly shook her. "Ken? Kennedy, Baby, are you awake?" Willow tries to wake her up.
Kennedy stirred a little. She weakly whispered, "Willow, are you there honey?" She slowly opened her eyes.
Willow took a hold of Kennedy's hand and held it to her cheek. Willow nodded, "Yes," and grabbed Kennedy into a hug.
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Angel turned Buffy's unconscious body over. "Buffy, Sweetie, wake up." There was no response.
Faith was still by the door. She leaned against the wall for support, but it didn't help. She slid down the wall and started sobbing. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed. Faith didn't want to lose her sister slayer. I'm not ready to read.
Angel had tears in his eyes, afraid for his girl. Giles stepped into the room. "What's going on?" he asked, just noticing the scene.
"Buffy did a spell and now she has Kennedy's disease within her body on top of her own. We have to find a way to cure it," Willow stated.
Giles took control of the situation. "You get her to her room," Giles commanded Angel. Angel didn't waste a second picking her up. "Willow, go down and double check the symptoms. I think I found something that could give us an idea of this disease. Maybe we can cure her. Hopefully we'll be in time. Angel, watch over her. Faith, I need you to put yourself together and face these girls; they need a leader now."
Faith got up and took a breath. "Right, yeah," she nodded her head, "I'm together." Both Giles and Faith left.
Angel held Buffy in his arms. "I won't let anything happen to you," he promised, kissing her hair. He then carried her to her room.
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He walked in the hallway with Buffy in his arms. Dawn ran up behind Angel and stops him. Dawn checked over her sister. "Buffy, Buffy!" she exclaimed. "What happened to her?" She looked up at Angel, panic in her eyes. Angel explained everything to her. "Oh my God! Is she going to be okay?" Dawn asked, staring at the lump in Angel's arms that was Buffy's limp body.
"I don't know Dawn, but we're trying. Giles thinks he found a cure, but it's not definite." Dawn was extremely worried. "I have to get her to a bed soon. The most you can do now is let her rest. Get warm, and pray." Dawn slowly backed off and entered her room.
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Angel kicked the door open to their room. Buffy's ponytail whipped his arm as he leaned her against himself to unfold the covers of the bed, the touched her. She's burning up. He went to the bathroom and filled a bucket with cold water and dipped a wash cloth into it. He wrung the excess water out and placed the cloth on her forehead. She lightly coughed. "Buffy?" he asked in shock.
Buffy slowly opened her eyes. Her voice was cracked and hoarse as a weak sound left her mouth. "Angel?" she asked.
He took her hand. "I'm right here, baby," he replied, kissing her hand. "Are you okay?"
"I had to," she gulped, "be awake," she gasped, "to say goodbye."
Angel stared at her, fear welling up in his eyes. "You don't have to worry about that. Giles is finding a cure, you'll be fine."
She shook her head and placed a small grin on her face. "It's coming too quick. It's inevitable I'm afraid, especially seeing how many times I've cheated death." She raised a hand to his cheek.
"Save your strength, Hun. You'll be fine," Angel said, boosting up her confidence.
Buffy put her hand down. "My sweet Angel, you have always been there for me, whether it was to comfort me, to save me, or," she paused to gulp, "make me laugh. I love you for that and I thank you for your concern, but I needed to do this."
"No, you are not saying goodbye yet," he told her.
Buffy ignored his comment. "Angel, could you just hold me until it's over?" she asked him. He was about to tell her it wasn't over, but he saw the desperate look.
He quickly nodded his head and crawled onto the bed with her. "Anything for you, Buffy." He kissed the top of her head as she was pulled into his broad arms.
"Thank you." She leaned her back against his warm body. They laced their fingers together, then laid their hands across her stomach. Angel's whole body surrounded her, guarding her with all his life. She had closed her eyes to rest and they just sat there for what seemed like centuries. About forty minutes of silence and peace later, Buffy whispered, "I love you, Liam."
Angel felt it in his heart that it was almost over. The tears swelled in his eyes and he felt his sobs almost choking him, but he held himself together to talk to his Buffy. "I love you, Buffy Anne Summers. I will be with you forever and always."
"Forever," Buffy agreed. She held his hand tighter. They sat there, soaking up the peace and quietness for a few more minutes, until he suddenly felt the strength behind her tight grip lessoning.
He looked at her. "Buffy?" He checked her pulse. He could sense her heart beat, but everything started to slow down. "No, this can't be happening. Not now."