When Buffy woke up, she was in a strange apartment. Looking around, somehow she could sense it was Spike's even though there was nothing to tell her so. She could hear low voices coming from the other side of the bedroom door, but the bed she was lying in was too comfortable to leave, after being tied up for so long.
Just then, Dawn, who was sitting in a chair near the bed, let out a loud snore. Buffy smiled and shook her head. She grabbed one of the pillows and threw it at her little sister. Dawn jerked awake instantly.
"Hey! So not cool!" She tossed the pillow back at Buffy and jumped onto the bed. "Though I'm so glad to see you awake."
"Was I asleep long?" Dawn nodded.
"Spike was getting pretty worried. We just barely got him to leave your side to go get some blood. It's been two days since he rescued you from that place. You've been asleep the entire time."
"Guess that explains why I'm starving." Buffy sat up. "I feel like I could eat a horse." Buffy slowly stood up, muscles aching and feeling weak from non-use. Slowly, and with Dawn's help, they made their way to the kitchen. Willow and Angel sat at a table, speaking in hushed tones.
"Hi guys." Buffy made her way to the fridge. "Got anything good to eat?"
"She's alive!" Willow smirked at Buffy. "Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty. I can make you something if you would like." Buffy nodded.
"Thanks, Will. That sounds great." Buffy sat down at the kitchen island. "Dawn says I've been asleep for two days. So catch me up please." She looked at Angel. "How's the clean-up going?"
He sighed. "It's going. I'm actually leaving tonight. I want to get as far away as I can so that Wolfram and Hart have a harder time finding me. Illyria is on her way back, though. And I hate to ask, but she needs your protection."
"Isn't Illyria an ancient one? Aren't they supposed to be all powerful and god-like?" Buffy looked at Angel confused. Angel nodded.
"She was. But to keep her from...imploding, we took some of it away from her. She still has a great deal, as Spike can attest to. But she's nowhere near her full strength."
This time, Buffy nodded. "We'll help keep her safe. Once I'm sure it's safe enough here, we'll return to London." What she didn't add out loud was that it would depend on Spike whether or not she went to London or stayed in L.A.
Willow placed a sandwich down in front of Buffy, and Buffy devoured it. Shortly after she had, Angel left, excusing himself to go catch a cab back to the Hyperion before he started his journey out of L.A. Buffy stood to hug Angel, and thank him for helping rescue him. Angel pulled her close, kissing the top of her head.
"I'm still waiting for that cookie, you know." Buffy sighed heavily pulling away. She didn't see Spike until he slammed the door, misinterpreting the scene. Angel smirked.
"You knew he was there, didn't you?" Buffy glared up at Angel, furious. "For the record, Angel, we are so over. I can't even look at you at the moment." She turned and rushed towards the door, but Spike was already gone.