Happy Halloween!

This chapter is a bit short, but longer updates come to those who wait.

Note about the title: Liminality comes from the Latin word "limen" meaning "threshold." It is the condition of being in-between two states.

The reader can determine its relevance. I'd love to hear your interpretations if you're willing to share them.

Chapter 9: Liminality

Buffy woke up smiling and reached out across the bed. Feeling a empty spot, she frowned. While the scent on the pillow and the remnants of her dream told her Angel was there, her eyes confirmed he wasn't.

But this time was different. Unlike previous mornings, Angel was actually just upstairs. If she called for him, he would come if for no other reason than to protect her.

Fisting her hands in the sheets, she snuggled further into the bed. As frustrating as waking up had been, Buffy recognized how rare of an opportunity this was. Tomorrow she'd wake up in a different bed - one that didn't smell like him or hold his imprint.

After showering and repacking her bag, Buffy made Angel's bed for the last time. She couldn't help but grace one of the pillows with a chaste kiss. "Forgive me." With one last look at the apartment, she stepped into the elevator and ascended to the world above.

There, she took her place in front of the window watching as the dawn approached.

Not for the first time, she wondered why the early hours seemed the most foreboding.

Did the night whisper of perils even as the sun drove it into exile? Was each new day just another opportunity for pain?

Even now, the hours of dawn held echoes of another morning - one which began with great turmoil and ended with him calling her name.

That was the whisper she heard in the morn: a helpless "Buffy?" from long ago. She gave the memories her ear, heeded their warning, and awaited what the day would bring.

Both Wesley and Cordelia came in early.

Pouring herself a cup of coffee, Cordelia noticed Buffy at her desk. "I'm kinda having trouble picturing the office without you."

Buffy looked up from the computer smiling, "Just think quieter and less blonde."

"Seriously though, I expect post cards and e-mails from you - none of this lone message on the answering machine crap."

With a grin, she looked back at the monitor, "Buffy e-mails- you sure you're ready for that? They have been known to have comics attached."

"It's okay. If I deem them too cheery for the gloom which is my workplace, I'll just read them at home."

Acknowledging the seriousness of the request, Buffy gave Cordy her complete attention. "Don't worry. I don't think I could disappear on you if I tried."

While sighing with relief, her sassy smirk fell back into place. "Of course you couldn't."

Instead of heading straight to Angel's office, Wesley spent the day in the same room as the ladies. They worked and giggled while he shook his head from behind several books.

When Cordelia returned with lunch, the atmosphere changed. They shared a relatively quiet meal together while Buffy fidgeted anxiously in her seat.

Around three, Buffy began to pace the small office listening for nearby cars or footsteps.
They both tried to distract her, but she couldn't focus on any conversation topic for long.

Eventually, the office settled back into silence.

The hours continued to pass and soon the sun started to set.

Buffy stopped pacing and crossed her arms as if somehow they could hold her together. Afraid to disturb her, Wes and Cordy were both startled by her outburst.

"He said early Saturday, right? So why isn't he here?"

"I don't know Buffy." With the utmost caution, he approached the topic they'd been avoiding all morning, "but it might be time to discuss your case."

Buffy started to pace again, "So, discuss."

He looked to Cordelia for support. "When he hired us, Lindsey gave specific instructions in the event that he not return today."

"What might those be?" She had answered absently, but he much preferred that to hostility.

"He told us to get you out of the city before another day passed - you and your son."

Understanding lit her features. "How considerate of him. Well, I'm vetoing that plan."

Wesley gently reasoned, "He would not want you to wait for him."

She stopped abruptly. "He wouldn't want to die either."

"If he has not arrived by nightfall, he is dead already."

She sat down but should no sign of weakening. "Maybe, or maybe he's alive - close to death - and needs my help."

His mouth dropped. "You can't seriously be suggesting taking on Wolfram and Hart."

"I can and I am." When Wesley didn't respond, Buffy went back to facing the window.

Overcoming her shock, Cordelia joined in. "Buffy, I understand you're worried about Lindsey, but you can't beat them. They're too strong."

"She's right. Wolfram and Hart isn't some demon you can defeat. It's powerful and organized. Just gaining confirmation of his death is too big of risk; You would be endangering all our lives."

Buffy's tone lost all emotion. "No, just mine and junior's."

"Which are precisely the two lives your husband didn't want risked!"

From stoic, her tone became annoyed. "Well, he's not here right now, so his wants are pretty irrelevant."

"It's suicide."

She turned to Wesley. "Maybe, but it's all I've got."

With fierce determination, he declared, "We can't let you do this."

With sympathetic eyes, Buffy replied, "You can't stop me either. I'm not your responsibility anymore." Buffy slowly stood up, "Consider yourselves fired." She started walking towards the exit when she felt a familiar presence enter.

"You're not going anywhere."

Buffy turned around to find a determined Angel standing in the e doorway. "You're not the client, Lindsey is. He told us to keep you safe, we have. He wants to get you out of town, we will. We leave in an hour."

He noticed she didn't appear angry or shocked, just extremely alert as she glanced towards the exit.

"You're trying to figure how fast you can reach the door." Her eyes shot to his as she gripped the chair in front of her. "Not fast enough to avoid a fight. You've been out of the game for two years Buffy. You can't beat me and you can't beat them. This is my office, and I want this case closed."

He started to turn around when her voice stopped him.

"A lot has changed since Sunnydale, for starters-" Picking up the chair, Buffy threw it against the window shattering the glass and causing everyone but her to jump back. "I don't have to fight to win - not anymore."

Buffy stepped over the window sill through the in-pouring light. "I don't need to take on the whole firm to save Lindsey. I get in, get out, and get gone." When she looked at Angel, her eyes shone like green fire.

"I don't give a damn about your job title or your deadline. My husband is in danger and I'm gonna get him out of it."

Facing Cordelia and Wesley, her voice softened. "If you get in my way, I will fight, I will win, and I will leave you where you fall. Either help me, or stay out of it."

Covered in glass chips and shallow cuts, Buffy strode out of the office and onto the street.

Watching her disappear in the crowed, Cordelia smiled softly. "Now that's the Buffy I remember."