Chapter 22: Meaningful Moments

When it ended, the tension left them both.

Angelus leaned one arm against the wall behind the counter and used the other to hold her close.

She loosely embraced him with both arms and tried to catch her breath.

Hearing her breathing even, he leaned back just enough to look at her.

Her neck oozed blood and her whole body trembled.

He spotted the fresh shirt hanging on the bathroom door. He reached for it and wrapped it around her shoulders.

Her teeth began to chatter.

Pulling out of her, he moved an arm under her legs and the other behind her back. He nudged the door open with his foot and carried her to the bedroom.

After laying her on the bed, he wrapped her in a blanket and patted down her hair. When some of the strands stuck to her wound, she hissed and his eyes narrowed.

Wesley's breathing became shallow. Another moment loomed - one between realities. There is a moment before tragedy and the moment of tragedy and between them is infinite experience. One feels every body part and everything around to the smallest detail: the dripping faucet, the dance paper makes as it floats to the ground, the number of wrinkles in a rug. It's the closest humans come to experiencing omniscience.

Wesley had already experienced several of those moments today. He didn't know if he could survive another.

He nudged the broken Muo-Ping with his foot. It lay a few feet away from the gutted monk.

At the top of the basement's stairs, Connor stood holding the door open. "They're coming . . . so is he, I think."

"Of course." Wes crushed a shard beneath his shoe before turning towards the boy. He heard the group enter the lobby as he climbed the stairs.

Connor let out a big breath and moved to meet them. "He said – I thought, but I wasn't sure . . ."

"I'm fine Connor."

Wesley reached the lobby and found Fred leaning between Gunn and Cordelia. Fred's forehead was bandaged and her throat displayed darkening, thick bruises.

"I don't recall ordering takeout."

The group's attention flew to the kitchen door Angelus exited.

Cordy rolled her eyes. "Seriously, there's no one better in this city to torment?"

"Apparently, this rusted rubble is my home." He swirled the content of his mug.

Connor mumbled, "Buffy brought him here."

"You mean she didn't try to stake his ass?" Gunn huffed. "This is a new level of crazy – even for her."

Fred whimpered as they sat her down on the settee.

Wesley scowled. "And where is the slayer . . . . Angelus?"

"If I knew we'd be having guests, I would have saved my appetite."

Connor's eyes widened.

Fred croaked, "You ate her."

Gunn looked down at her. "You surprised?"

Connor shook his head. "She's not dead."

"You keep telling yourself that."

Cordy stepped forward. "What do you want Angelus?"

"Right now I want to make sure no one tries to return that pesky soul to me."

Wesley nodded. "So you're here to kill us then."

He smiled wide. "How else could I be sure?"

Gunn shrugged. "This is why I voted to skip town."

Connor headed towards the stairs.

"Connor." Cordelia started after him.

He paused when Angelus headed towards him. "Have you already forgotten? The little one is mine."

Connor's frown deepened. "Then take better care of her." He continued past him up the stairs.

Angelus stared at his coffee mug. "What do you say lover?"

Buffy walked up behind him finishing a piece of toast. She took the mug from him and sipped.

Gunn grimaced. "That is all kinds of wrong."

Fred coughed. "Vampire."

Wesley tightened his grip on the stake.

Connor walked over and peaked in the mug.

Everyone held their breath for what Angelus would do to him.

Connor sniffed, straightened and looked Angelus in the eye. "You fed her."

Wesley started inching towards the weapons case.

Gunn followed.

"She was hungry."

Their staring contest was interrupted by the mug being hurled across the room and shattering against the weapons case.

Both Wesley and Gunn froze.

Angelus smirked at Buffy's throw. "Ain't that sweet."

Cordelia ran a trembling hand through her hair. "A crazy slayer protecting a crazy vampire – perfect."

Inspecting the broken cup remains, Wes murmured, "Orange juice."

"Let them return your fear of leave."

"His what?" Gunn guffawed. "That's what she thinks he's missing?"

Connor nodded. "Fear I understand." He looked at his father. "You are stronger without it."

Angelus raised a brow. "Glad we agree that Angel is a coward."

Buffy reached for his hand and watched their finger intertwine. "Everything is possible for you right now . . . but not this – not here."

"And why is that?"

Angelus' response sounded deceptively neutral to Wes. He thought he saw her lips began to smile.

"You were ready to lose yourself. Are you ready to lose me? Because I'm not . . . not yet."

Angelus loomed over her. "I can be patient."

The whole room saw her smile then. "No you can't."

Gunn's brows flew up. "She's teasing the serial killer."

Fred squeezed his hand nervously and ran her fingers over her neck.

Buffy held his gaze. "I'm not asking you to stay."

Angelus read every detail of her expression. "You want me to leave."

Gunn grumbled. "She's not the only one."

She shook her head slightly. "I want your strength, but I need you to be free."

Turning toward her, he took her other hand in his. "I could make you free."

She stepped into him pushing her hands up through his so they caressed both sides of his face. Full of smiles, she pulled him down for a laughing kiss. Her laughter faded in gentleness and thick emotion. When she pulled back from the kiss, he saw tears in her eyes.

She whispered, "I wish you could."

Grabbing her wrists hard, he yanked her up against him growling.

She didn't flinch, even when his face morphed and came nose to nose with hers.

In a clear voice that echoed through the lobby, she asked, "Will you be afraid with me?"

With a roar, he pushed her across the room. Connor sprinted to her side.

Struggling for breath, she started to sit up. Connor helped her the rest of the way.

She looked up at Angelus. "Then you need to leave."

He growled and the whole room stilled. He looked ready to maul someone – anyone.

Connor helped her to stand.

Angelus stalked towards them. "I choose now."

In an instant, Connor was on the floor and Buffy was hauled up against Angelus' chest.

And in the time it took for Fred to gasp, everything changed.

With her back against his chest, Buffy covered his hands with hers.

He shouted and fell to his knees taking her down with him.

Turning in his arms, she locked eyes and cradled his face in her hands.

He shouted louder and started to wheeze. They toppled to their sides.

Buffy crawled to her feet and stood shakily.

She looked at Angelus lying still on the ground.

Gunn swopped up Fred into his arms and stepped closer to Wes. "Did she kill him?"

He shrugged. "I-

Buffy spoke in that clear voice that cut the air. "Whoever has his fear should return it now."

Wesley nodded. "We need to get him in the cage. I'll gather the supplies."

Gunn leaved Fred against Cordelia and together Wesley, Gunn and Connor dragged the unconscious Angelus to the basement.

Fred held a cold compress to her neck while Cordy strained a pot of noodles and Lorne stirred the sauce.

Fred looked at the closed kitchen door. "I was never that strong."

Cordy nodded. "That's what being born with super powers will do for ya'."

She turned over the compress. "I really was trapped in a hell dimension – or at least hell-ish."

Lorne made a low whistle. "Pylea counts dumplin'."

"She traveled: Sunnydale, LA, who knows where else . . . if it wasn't for you folks, I'd still be in that cave."

Lorne nodded "Goldfinch being hard to find had more to do with moving than hiding."

"And she risks her life to save things that to her, maybe aren't worth saving."

Cordelia shrugged. "That's what she does; lost causes are her specialty."

Fred put aside the ice pack. "I bet you could put her in any dimension and she'd be okay."

Gunn walked in. "Who, Blondie?"

Cordy straightened. "Is he . . . .?"

"Leave it to Wesley to have a backup monk." He shook his head. "A monk doing gypsy curses – guess mojo is mojo."

"I'm going to go check on him."

Gunn watched her walk out. "Anyone think she's more worried now than when he was soulless?"

Lorne sighed. "The heart can play the oddest tricks."