Chapter 9
"I still don't get why Buffy would be risking her life to save Spike," Angel exclaimed. "This is a joke, right?"
Willow sighed. "It's been four months…how much longer is it going to take? How long do you think she has spent there? She could have been there for years and years already." Her eyes started to fill with tears. "We have no way of finding out…no way of helping her. I don't know how much longer I can stand this…"
"Hey." Angel grew serious. "I don't believe this thing with Buffy and Spike, but there is another way to go help her."
"There is?" Giles was suddenly interested.
"Yes. There are actually three of those amulets. I happen to know where the second one is buried. I can retrieve it and use it to go find Buffy and help her."
"Oh could you really?" Willow gasped, hope filling her eyes.
"Wait a minute…. I don't trust evil dead boy here. What if it's just an act? What if he's lost his soul again and…and?!"
Angel rolled his eyes at Xander, "Still as brainless as ever I see," he muttered and before Xander could retaliate, he continued on, "First of all, if I were Angelus I would have sucked you dry by now. Secondly, while the soulless can possess the amulet, we cannot enter a hell dimension with it. Only those with a soul can wear it once there. That's probably why Drusilla never went to bring Spike back herself."
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"Oh my god. What are we going to do now?" Buffy wailed. She had no idea where that evil clone of her had run off to, it could be another dimension for all she knew.
"H-how did you get here? I don't understand." Spike whispered, still looking amazed. He held onto her tightly as if she might disappear at any moment.
So Buffy explained, finishing with, "and that's why we have to get it back as soon as possible!"
Spike took her hand, helping her to her feet, despite the fact that he was in obvious worse shape. "Then lets do it luv, if you're here, anything is possible."
"Spi – " Buffy cut off as she seized up and fell back. Spike caught her and she went limp in his arms. Oh no! He realised in alarm. That amulet must have been protecting her from some of the effects of being here…and now that its gone they are suddenly hitting her…it would be even worse with a soul…
He watched as her eyes rolled back in her head and she went completely still.
"No…Buffy…luv, snap out of it!" he shook her, but nothing happened, and he stood there helplessly, not knowing what to do.
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Angel appeared in the hell dimension, the amulet he had dug up glowing around his neck and the first thing he saw was…Spike and Buffy. What luck!
For a moment he couldn't move as he witnessed the scene before him.
Spike crouched on the ground, cradling a limp Buffy in his arms. "Why did you do it pet? Why did you risk yourself for me? Why did you risk your sanity? You might never…." he choked, "you might never return to normal after this! Buffy, Buffy. I'm not worth it. I never was…a soulless demon like myself…I never was worthy of your love. I've been so selfish…thinking I'm good enough…"
"William the Bloody…you never stop whining do you?" Angel walked over to them. "I don't understand what's going on here and I really hate to do this…but…it's the only way to get you two back." Before Spike could utter a word, Angel embraced the duo and willed them to go back to their world.
The amulet shone brighter and brighter and then –
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"Buffy!" Giles cried in shock, dropping a pile of books he had been carrying when Buffy and the two vampires appeared in the middle of the school library. He ran over to them. Angel was getting up, having recovered first.
"Is she…is she ok?"
"I don't know. Spike seems like he's in pretty bad shape as well."
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"Buffy…" Spike's eyes snapped open. "Where's Buffy?"
"Ah, Spike. Are you feeling better?" Giles asked. "We borough you back to my house so I could treat your wounds and you could rest. You shouldn't move yet."
"Where's Buf-" Spike stopped as he looked across the room and saw her, Angel kneeling by her side.
Get away from her, she's mine! Spike's mind screamed, and he almost leapt up to attack his rival, but he stopped himself. Apart from the fact that he wasn't sure if he could actually move at the moment due to his wounds, he also had a thought. Maybe Angel would be better for her…he had a soul after all…no no, he's not! I will never let her return to him again! Buffy needs a human lover. A nice, normal human who will age with her, who will treat her right…who wont cause her to have to make trips into hell…
"Buffy…"
She appeared to be sleeping. Spike wanted so badly to reach out and touch her…to hold her in his arms. But she was too…far…away….
Closing his eyes, he slipped into unconsciousness once more.
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"Spike….nnno…Spike!" she tossed her head from side to side. "SPIKE!"
"Ssssh. Buffy, it's okay." Gentle hands brushed her hair from her face, soothed her, reassured her.
Her eyes flew open. "Spike?" Someone, hovering over her…someone different…yet familiar…
"Angel?"
"Yeah. It's me."
Buffy smiled. "Angel….." her eyes widened. "ANGEL? Is that really you? You came back…" Why is he here? After all this time…why did he suddenly come back? I can't think about this now, I have to make sure Spike's okay!"
"You've been sleeping for four days." Angel told her, stopping her as she tried to get up. "Are you feeing better?"
"Yes! I feel fine! Is Spike – "
"BUFFY! You're awake!" Xander and Willow burst into the room, rushing over to her, hugging her.
"Hey guys!" Buffy forced herself to smile. "How long was I gone?"
"Four, almost five months! We missed you so much!"
"Oh my gosh, it only felt like a few hours! What did I miss?"
Spike looked over at Buffy from the other side of the room where he lay on the couch. After four days rest he was feeling a lot better, his strength had returned. He felt relieved as he watched the slayer chatting with her friends. She seems almost normal…I was so afraid she wouldn't be able to recover…but she seems to be coping even better than I thought! I wonder…is it because Angel is here?
"You guys, you don't need to fuss over me okay? I've told you, I'm fine. Just a little trip to hell, I didn't even spend that long there…. nothings changed okay?" She looked over and saw him then. "Spike!"
In a blink Buffy was in his arms, hugging him tightly. I wont be able to hold him like this for much longer…I have to push him away…this can't go on. She sighed, not wanting to let go, her heart breaking.
Spike held her back, thinking the same thing. I can't let her risk herself like that for me again…this has to end.
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"Buffy…"
She woke up, it was the middle of the night, and she guessed she must have fallen asleep again. Angel was still watching over her.
"Where's Spike?" she asked, feeling his absence.
"He went to his crypt." Angel told her and Buffy felt a stab in her heart. Back to Drusilla already…couldn't wait I guess…
"Buffy," Angel repeated her name, and he looked like he had been crying. " I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for those things I did, I'm so sorry for the things that happened….I know saying sorry doesn't change anything but I wish every single day that I could erase them, that I could turn back time…."
Buffy's eyes widened. He's talking about the things he did when he was Angelus…she hadn't really thought about it in months. After what I've been through with Spike…they almost seem insignificant…
But looking at Angel…she felt a flood of warmth. It wasn't completely his fault…it was mine as well. But neither of us knew…still…before that…he was always there for me…back then I was so innocent…I couldn't stop myself from loving him…and I don't think he will ever completely leave my heart…
"I left, Buffy, because I was so ashamed of myself, that I couldn't bear to be around you. I thought that not seeing you…I could move on…"
"Angel…don't do this to yourself." Buffy tried to stop him. "I forgave you for everything a long time ago, I'm just glad that you got your soul back and I don't have to stake you." She smiled weakly.
Angel held up a hand. "Please…it's been so long, just let me say this okay?" she nodded and he continued. "But I couldn't stop thinking about you…and as soon as I saw you again, I realised, I never stopped loving you. Even when I lost my soul…I think part of my twisted side still loved you. I thought leaving would be easier on both of us…I never thought that it would cause you to seek solace in the arms of the enemy…I should have stayed here with you…I should have protected you from Spike who obviously is the reason you went into hell…. I'm sorry Buffy, and I have decided I will stay in Sunnydale, by your side, and make up for my mistakes."
He drew her close to him in an embrace. "I want us to be together again, Buffy."
Wow, it only just occured to me that I never mentioned Cordilia in any of my fics, this one of the one before it. I didn't mean to forget about her! Though I'm not really sure what she would be doing at this time...I guess she just didn't fit in so I forgot P Anywyas I think there will probably end up being about 12 chapters altogether, so three more chapters left: ) Next one coming soon!
