Chapter Twenty-Five
When Angel returned to the hospital, the sun was beginning to rise from it's horizontal bed. He had just spent the majority of his night tracking down leads on Jasper's gang. He headed to the ICU ward, where Buffy and Brian were being held. But when he got there, he saw two empty beds instead. Oh God, they died and no one told me, Angel thought as he passed the nurse's counter. A nurse on her rounds, saw the panic stricken look on Angel's face and offered assistance.
"Can I help you sir," She asked, grabbing Angel's shoulder.
"They were here when I left," he said, seemingly unaware of the nurse.
"Who, sir?"
"Brian. And Buffy." Angel looked beside him and saw the concerned face on the nurse. "Uh, Mr. and Mrs. Kelly," Angel corrected. "They were in a semi accident."
"Oh yes," the Nurse's face lit up. "You must be Angel then?"
"Yes."
"I was told to tell you that they have moved them up to the third floor," the nurse motioned for Angel to follow. He turned from the empty beds and followed the nurse to the elevators.
"They're in room 302," she said pushing the button to cue the elevator.
"Thank you," Angel said as the elevator dinged ,and the doors opened.
The nurse's smile became wider. Angel had a sneaking suspicion what she was about to say, so he decided to cut her off.
"Sorry," he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm taken."
Angel held his straight face, until the doors closed on the heartbroken young nurse, and then smiled, laughing to himself.
Angel walked down the sterile white halls of the hospital, looking for Buffy's room number. He watched the numbers on the doors become larger, signaling that he was nearing his destination.
"Room 302," Angel whispered as he pushed back the door. Stepping quietly inside, Angel saw Buffy sleeping peacefully in her bed, a large bouquet of flowers on the table beside her. The blinds had been closed, but a little bit of sunlight filtered through. The small shafts of yellow light crossed Buffy's body like a warm, striped blanket.
Angel smiled as he walked closer and sat in the chair beside her. He slipped his hand under his, and wrapped his fingers around her fragile hand. Buffy responded to his touch by squeezing his tightly, and shifted just slightly, becoming more comfortable in her bed. Angel rose and kissed her forehead, which now showed little sign of the damage that had once been there, just a few hours ago. He resumed his seat, and interlaced his fingers with Buffy's who allowed him, lightly squeezing as she did. Angel then leaned his head back in the chair, and sleep claimed him.
"Hey, Buffster," Xander's loud and annoying voice said, walking into the room, waking Angel from his rather pleasant, if somewhat "X" rated, beach date with a certain Slayer. Xander walked in and saw Angel lounging a chair, a hospital blanket draped over his legs.
"Oh hey, Angel," Xander acknowledged the former vampire's presence. "Long night?"
"Something like that," Angel said as he rose up, stretching his arms.
"Morning," Willow's voice carried as she carried in a basket of flowers.
"Hey, Will," Buffy said as she looked to Angel. "How'd you sleep?"
"It could have been better," he replied as he folded the blanket that had been draped across him. "You wouldn't happen to know how this blanket found it's way across my legs do you?"
"Nope, no idea," Buffy answered, a sly smile on her face.
"Ahuh," Angel said nodding at Buffy. "Okay, if you say so."
"How you doing today Buff?" Xander stood beside Buffy, checking her injuries.
"Better, but I still feel a little sore."
"Well, I don't doubt it," Willow placed the book bag she carried with her in the chair and walked over to give Buffy a gentle hug. "You were in a pretty bad crash. It's a miracle you and Brian survived."
"How is Brian," Buffy asked, remembering the horrific events. "Please tell me he's okay?"
"The doctors have taken him to get a blood transfusion," Xander calmed Buffy. "They say as long as the transfusion goes well, then he should be fine."
Buffy took a visibly deep breath, before exhaling it, allowing her to relax. Angel stood on her other side, and watched the emotions play across her bruised, but beautiful, face. As her face began to contort and become wrinkled with frowns, Angel realized Buffy was reliving the wreck.
Buffy looked at Brian as he drove their red Range Rover towards the restaurant. She couldn't believe what Brian had told her. He was in remission. Her heart leapt at the fact that she and Brian could go back to the way things used to be. Brian could return to work, and she could…. Well, she could return to Slaying, just as she had been doing. But poor Angel. She knew that with Brian having Cancer, and possibly dying, that things between them might become more heated. Angel had never stopped loving her, but her heart, and her life, now belonged to Brian.
And Brian was going to take her back to where they first met. It had to have been at least five years since she had been back to Italy. Yeah, Brian had been a few times on business, but she had never gone with him. Buffy smiled at her adorable husband as he pushed the gas pedal, preparing to cross the intersection. That's when Buffy's happy face, turned into horror face.
Out of nowhere, a blue Semi with a shiny grill came barreling towards them. Buffy knew it was useless, but she cried out anyway.
"BRIAN!" She screamed, and Brian looked to his left, and saw the semi heading for them. Instantly, everything became slow motion. Brian quickly steered the car away from the line of fire. Buffy cursed silently, thinking he was going so slow. But that thought was literally thrown from her head as she felt the metal of the Semi crunch and scrape, the Rover. Buffy heard Brian yell in pain, as the driver side of the car was slowly turned into twisting, bending pieces of metal, before her eyes. She could feel the car slide sideways across the street and make contact with the curb. Buffy winced, as her head hit the door frame where her seat belt extended forwards. The car continued to conform unnaturally, as the Semi continued on its course. Finally, all was silence and Buffy waited for the car to stop rocking.
Buffy looked around, wiping the blood from her face, and saw Brian limping in the seat.
"Oh, my god," Buffy said, trying to undo her belt and climb across the seat. She pushed Brian's head back, and saw streams of blood flowing from a large gash in his scalp. Buffy felt for a pulse and found one, as some people walked up to her window.
"Are you okay miss?" said a nice, college-aged woman, as she stuck her head through the window. Buffy turned and looked at the woman.
"Please, call for help," She cried as she climbed back across the seat. "My husband is badly hurt."
"Not nearly as bad as he's gonna be," the woman said, suddenly grabbing Buffy and pulling her through the broken window. The woman's face then showed her true persona, that of a Vampire. Two others appeared just as suddenly on either side of her. Buffy tried to fight them off, but it was useless. Her injuries had made it hard for her to maintain her balance.
The woman turned Buffy around and made her look at what remained of the Range Rover. Buffy watched as two other vampires walked over to Brian's side of the door.
"NO," Buffy screamed. "Leave him alone!"
"Sorry," said her captor, "Can't do that. Have to teach you and that souled back-stabber of yours, a lesson."
Buffy struggled franticly as one of the vampires pulled open the door, and Brian fell out. The Vampire smiled wickedly, as he licked the blood from Brian's face, before bowing his head, and sinking his teeth into Brian's neck.
"STOP!" Buffy screamed as the vamp continued to drink. Filled with a new resolve and anger, Buffy pulled one arm free, and punched her captor's face. The female vamp stumbled back, while Buffy spun around to kick the other one. The female vamp disintegrated quickly, as Buffy wielded a broken piece the car's frame like a sword. Buffy punched the other vamp in the stomach, forcing him to the ground as he doubled over.
Buffy swung the piece of bumper like a executioner, dusting him instantly. Buffy turned to attack the other vamp, but the sirens that she was beginning to hear, made the drinking vampire stop in his tracks. He hissed at Buffy before dropping Brian's limp body, and darting for the shadows. Buffy scrambled back through the window, cursing as she felt new cuts slice through her flesh, before reaching Brian's body.
Tears streamed down her face, as she pulled his head onto her lap. Shakily, Buffy placed her fingers over the two punctures that were spilling fresh blood. Buffy began to rock herself back and forth, closing her eyes to prevent further tears as the sirens finally reached her. And as the toll of her fight finally kicked in, everything went black.
"Buffy," she heard her name being called from far away. Buffy looked from her lap to in front of her, and saw her three best friends standing there, watching her relive every horrifying moment.
"Buffy," Angel's soft and velvet voice called. "You okay?"
Buffy took a breath before leaning over, and beginning to cry.
"Hey guys," Angel said looking to Xander and Willow, " Can you give me a few minutes alone with Buffy?"
Willow nodded, and grabbed her book bag. Taking Xander by the lapel of his blazer, she led him out of the room like a grandmother who grabbed her disobeying grandson by the ear. Once they had left, Angel sat on the edge of the hospital bed, and pulled Buffy's sobbing body closer to him. Carefully, he wrapped his arms around her, and allowed Buffy to cry.
Xander and Willow were standing outside Buffy's room when Angel walked out a few minutes later.
"How is she," Willow asked.
"Exhausted, but I think she'll be okay." Angel answered. "Did you do what I asked?"
Willow swung her book bag around and opened the oversized flap.
"Yeah," she said, pulling out a file filled with pictures and papers. "I made a few calls to some Watcher friends of mine and, telling them this was strictly a under the table job, they gave me this."
She handed the file over to Angel who began to scan the information. Xander and Willow watched Angel's face go through changes as he read the file. He looked up at Willow.
"Are these pictures current?"
"As far as I know," Willow answered, taking the file back from Angel's hands. "This one Watcher I talked to said that they tend to move from place to place. But this picture was taken within the last few days."
"But they may have already moved, assuming ahead of time that after they attacked Buffy, that I would get involved."
"So your saying that they skipped town already?" Xander loomed over Willow's shoulder, looking at the vamp in the file.
"Not necessarily," Angel looked at Xander. "Jasper and his gang intend on finishing what they start. And a vamp with a set goal is a dangerous thing." Angel looked back to Willow. "Find out anything more on Jasper?"
"No, nothing." Willow shrugged. "It's weird. I mean, the Council records show that there was a vampire name Jasper, he was made not long after you, but there are only a handful of entries about him. After around 1890, he just kinda disappears."
"Hey, isn't that about the same time you got cursed?" Xander pointed out.
"Yeah," Angel said sternly, suddenly making Willow and Xander feel there was something he wasn't saying.
"Okay, now what are you hiding?" Xander folded his arms. The Cryptic Guy routine had become old about the time he decided breaking teacher's necks was a good time.
"It's nothing," Angel said turning his back to Buffy's friends.
"No it is something," Xander walked over to stand in front of Angel. "You got info on this psycho who's out to hurt Buffy and I want to know what it is!"
"This is my fight, Xander," Angel warned the former high schooler.
"Like hell it is," Willow snapped. "Granted, I don't like being in the thick of danger, but when I'm recruited to get information about a vampire assassin, because he's after Buffy, then by golly, somebody better tell me why!"
"I'm with her," Xander said pointing at his best friend.
Angel closed his eyes and sighed. Just when he thought the sins of his past had been long forgotten, one last surprise had to come and threaten it all over again.
"This is all my fault," Angel sighed. "I made him."
"How?" Willow asked. "I mean, I know how, but I get the feeling there's more to it."
"Darla and I were in Versailles, at the start of the French revolution, and I came across a young assassin named Jasper. He was strong and skilled. And I thought he would make a good addition to the fold. So I stalked him one night and turned him. He was everything that Angelus and hoped for; cunning, sadistic, and terrifying. A perfect 'son' ."
"So what happened?" Xander asked. "I mean what happened to make this guy go all psycho on you?"
Angel folded his arms and leaned against the wall.
"Right after I was cursed, Darla forced me out, and away from everything I had known. Darla found out about the curse and ransacked every village for days. When Jasper finally brought up my disappearance, she told him I had rejected him and her, by volunteering to get a soul."
"Well, that explains the vengeance kick," Xander joined Angel on the wall beside him.
"How did you find out what Darla told Jasper?" Willow questioned, as she thumbed through the file again.
"Spike," Angel said simply. "He mentioned it to me not long after... well ... After I changed back."
"So now Jasper's back to take revenge on you and Buffy?" Angel nodded his head in response to Xander's question.
"Then we better find him first." All three turned to see Buffy standing at the door to her room, watching Angel, Willow and Xander.
"How long have you been standing there?" Willow asked, watching Buffy stand unsteadily.
"Long enough," Buffy looked to Angel. "Any idea where this Angelus wanna-be might be staying?"
"Buffy, you really shouldn't be up." Angel walked over and wrapped an arm around Buffy.
"I'm fine Angel," she said as Angel turned her back towards the room. " Take me to Brian's room. I wanna see if he's back yet."
"Ok," Angel held out a hand, and Buffy took it allowing Angel's other arm to hold her back steady. Willow crossed her arms and leaned into Xander.
"Don't they make a sweet couple?"
"If Buff wasn't already married to Brian, yeah." Xander did little to hide his hatred.
"Bitter much?"
"No," Xander snapped. "I just don't like the fact that Angel thinks he can be friends with Buffy."
"They have each changed," Willow said, assuring her best friend. "They've grown. Buffy knows she can't do anything that would risk losing Brian. And Angel knows better than to try, no matter how much he feels for her."
Xander watched Angel help Buffy into Brian's room and shook his head.
"Boy, you are so clueless."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Willow felt crushed by her friend's words.
"Those two have been close to doing it several times over the past year."
"You mean when Buffy was at Angel's apartment and answered wearing Angel's sweater backwards?"
Xander spun around. "How did you know?"
"Oh, Come on, Xander. Like Buffy could really keep something that crucial from me?"
"Well, did she tell you that it took them almost fifteen minutes to open the door?"
"No," Willow answered.
"Then I arrest my case."
Willow just shook her head. She knew that Angel and Buffy could restrain themselves.
Angel led Buffy into Brian's room. There Brian lay, the respirator still attached, still making him breathe. A nurse was checking his vitals while Buffy approached her husband from the other side.
"Why does he still need the respirator?"
"It's just procedure," the nurse told her softly, as she made a note on Brian's chart. "If all goes well, we should be able to remove it tomorrow." The nurse smiled at Buffy, who smiled weakly back, as the nurse left the room.
Buffy leaned against the bed, and softly touched Brian's face. She traced his features, stopping at the point where the vampire had attacked him. Carefully, she brushed her fingers over the healing edges of the bite. She held back tears as she spoke to her sleeping husband.
"I'm so sorry I did this to you," she whispered. "This is all my fault!"
Buffy's body convulsed as she held back tears. Angel stepped forward and placed a caring hand on her shoulder.
"It's not your fault, Buffy."
"Isn't it?" she sobbed, looking Angel in the eye. "It seems like ever since you came back, my whole world has turned upside down!" Angel tried not to feel hurt by Buffy's words. They were only said out of fear and pain. Not because she meant them. Buffy leaned closer to her husband.
"I promise," she whispered in his ear, "You make it through this, and I will never, ever, slay again." She kissed Brian's temple, before looking back to Angel.
"When you find this Jasper, I want to come with you."
"Buffy, you can't," Angel protested. "You're not strong enough."
"Because of his actions, my husband is lying in a drug induced coma. I say that requires a little payback don't you?"
Angel looked away, before she could read the agreement in his eyes. When he looked back, Buffy could tell he was hiding his true answer.
"Buffy you can't go and fight this guy, he's too strong."
"Stronger than you?"
"Smarter." Angel replied. "He's an assassin, Buffy. He won't stop until all of us are dead."
"Then, like I said, we better find him quick." Buffy looked back at Brian, before Angel watched Buffy carefully walk back to her room.
"He's gonna learn real quick, the worst thing he could do is piss off a Slayer."
End Chapter.