She didn't know what happened. The last thing she remembered was Riley dragging her into the house and then into the nearest room, which was the kitchen. The next thing she knew, he was on the ground bleeding from a nasty wound in the back of his head. She stood in front of the stove, visibly shaking. What had she done? She gasped softly as she tried to catch her breath. She had began hyperventilating and didn't even realize it. What was going on with her? She heard sirens outside and peaked out the window over the sink; cops. Had she been screaming? Did they fight? She couldn't remember. All she knew was she was standing in front of a dying body, obviously guilty. What had she done?
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Faith had called him before he had a chance to call her. He had been out searching for Buffy all night, and when he picked up his cell phone while he was driving around the darkened streets of Los Angeles, he only hoped it was his Buffy. But, it wasn't. It was Faith. She said Buffy was in the hospital, and so was Riley. He asked her which one and he turned his car around and drove there as quickly as he could.
His mind was in a haze as he ran through the corridors of the hospital, nurses screaming at him to stop. He couldn't. He had to find Buffy. Finally, he found Faith, who was standing outside a hospital room with Spike. They both looked as if they hadn't slept in days.
"What happened?," he panted, out of breath.
"Buffy stabbed Riley in the head. They can't figure out how she did it, but she did. Self defense of course. The police saw her body and had her rushed to the hospital. He had tried raping her, and that's why she stabbed him."
If Faith only knew, he thought to himself, how many times that bastard put his hands on her, touched her with rough hands where only she was meant to be touched lovingly. He held back the comment and let her continue.
"They say she's in pretty bad shape. She's been walking around with bruises, cuts and welts...some of her wounds are probably infected. They said...from her internal wounds, she might not be able to have children."
His heart dropped. She didn't deserve this. If he could take all this pain and heartbreak from her he would. In a heartbeat all of her pain would be his.
"She's been crying since she found out. She doesn't want to see either of us. Maybe you should try."
She gestured to the door, noting how silent he was. His face was void of any emotion or any indication that he had even heard a word she said. She had a feeling that the information he now had was effecting him more then he wanted either of them to know. He walked past her and opened the door to Buffy's room, closing it silently behind himself. Spike walked up to Faith, placing his hand on her shoulder. She turned around and wrapped her arms around him, needing his support as her best friend sat in some hospital room, broken and bruised inside and out.
"He loves her. He'll do what he can."
He assured her softly, and she nodded into his shirt.
Angel silently made his way toward her bed, watching as her curled up form shook and shivered with each sob she released. He couldn't stand to see her like this. Everything was broken. She was broken. Her head lifted up to look at him and she cried harder, extending her arms to him. She needed for him to hold her. She needed his comfort. With little or no hesitance at all, he was on the bed with her, and she was in his arms, safe at last. She cried on him, and all he could do was be there for her. Be the love and comfort she needed and deserved.
"I'm sorry," she cried onto him, clutching at his arms.
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. She was sorry? No, he couldn't let her hurt herself this way. None of this was her fault. He was about to speak when she cut him off.
"Our dream can never come true now."
He stroked her hair, kissing her forehead.
"We don't need kids and a dog to have our dream come true, Buffy."
She looked up at him, but he silenced her with a light kiss. He shook his head and held her closer.
"Just as long as we're together, that's all we need."
"Don't you want kids?," her small voice broke the silence.
"Only if you are their mother. Other then that, no. All I need is you, love. You and only you."
She cried, burying her face in his jacket.
"I'm sorry I can't make you a daddy."
A stray tear fell into her hair, Angel's pain reflecting hers. Her wounds were too deep now. He'd be lucky if he ever got Buffy back.
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I'm sorry this is so short, but life has been extremely hectic, and I didn't want to keep you guys waiting too long. I hope you all enjoy it, and thank you all for your reviews! I love reading them. They keep me going. Again, sorry for the shortness. The next chapter will be much longer and make up for this.
