Authors Note: Thanks for the reviews guys! Keep them coming, every time I see one I get motivated to write…so you gotta keep me motivated. This chapter maybe a little short, and we are getting to the end of the story, although I kind of have a twist I want to add but im not sure yet because it could turn into its own plot line.

Thanks – jen

Chapter 34

"Is she dead yet?" Peruzi cackled, glaring vehemently at the clearly disheveled man before him.

"Shut up ya' ponce!" Spike said, backhanding him violently in the face.

"It was perfect timing don't you think? Her knights in shining armor busting in to save the day, bump Riley and shoot her." Vinnie said, grinning brightly as Angel bowed his head. "It'd be a shame if she died and it was your fault."

"Shut up asshole. Get a move on!" A police officer said, pushing him into the back of the van. "Where you're going to wish you were dead."

" Spare me." Vinnie groused, his mood quickly sobering.

"No you should ask them to spare your ass. It will probably get a lot of use in prison. A guy like you putting all those criminals out of business." Pike replied coming up from the other side of the van. "Have a nice ride!"

As the police put Vinnie in the van, it was a type of closure. Their mission for the past few years was complete, the attorney general had all the information she needed to convict Vinnie Peruzi multiple attempted murder counts, first degree murder, organized crime, drug trafficking, you name it he was going to be tried for it.

However, there was a somber note to what should be a celebration among friends and colleagues. The one person who made it all possible laid in a hospital bed in a coma. When the agents busted into the room where Buffy was being kept, Angel bumped into Riley who was standing right in the entrance and his gun went off, shooting Buffy in the stomach at a relatively close range causing her to hit the wall and lose consciousness. By the time the paramedics had arrived she had lost so much blood she was in shock and sliding into a coma.

Two weeks later her condition had improved but she still had not woken up. Angel was a complete mess, often becoming a drunken mess at night and he had yet to speak to anyone. As soon as Buffy was hit Angel went on a rampage, he shot and killed Riley and came very close to beating Peruzi to death until Spike pulled Angel off of him. After being lifted off of Peruzi Angel went straight to Buffy, gathered her up in his arms, and hadn't spoken since. Spike and Pike had only been slightly better. Mostly because Spike has such a high tolerance for alcohol and their thorough belief that Buffy was too strong to be put out by a thug like Riley. But Angel still blamed himself; every night he cried himself to sleep by Buffy's bedside and prayed to the high powers to take him instead, begging them to fix it.

The night following Peruzi's transportation to the country prison he got a reply.