Normal Again (part 3)
Buffy stared off again as the light came back. She got up from her bed and walked downstairs to find everyone. Entering the living room, she bumped into Willow and Angel.
"Oh, Buffy, I.. I didn't see you. We were just coming to check on you. You feeling better? Did the antidote work?" Willow asked.
"I'm.. still pretty dazed, but, uh, better." Buffy replied.
"No more cuckoo's nest? Well, we still have the big bad all tranked out down in the basement. In case it didn't work and we need more parts."
"It'll be nice to see you all better." Angel said.
"Thanks." Buffy said.
"I can make you some food, something big with energy, help you clear your head. Come on." Angel took her hand and led her into the kitchen. "Oh, I'll be right back. I need to get something from the car."
Angel left Willow and Buffy standing in the kitchen. Willow turned to watch him go, leaving her back open to Buffy. Which was when the blonde attacked. She slammed Willow on the back and sent her face first into the wall, knocking her out. Moving swiftly, Buffy grabbed some duct tape and wrapped Willow's feet and hands together. She took a small strip and placed it over Willow's mouth. Then, Buffy dragged the former witch down into the basement and left her. By the time Buffy got back upstairs, Angel was coming back in.
"Hey Buffy, where'd Willow go?" Angel asked.
"Oh, um, I think she said she needed to use the bathroom." Buffy answered.
"Ok." He looked at her funny. "Well, lets get to work on that brunch, huh?"
"Yeah."
He started to gather things up to make the brunch and Buffy watched him.
*Angel's going to be harder to take down.* She thought to herself. *He's going to take a bit of work.*
Angel put a frying pan on the stove, but didn't turn it on. He turned to the sink and started to peel something over it, leaving his back open to Buffy. Silently, she slipped over and grabbed the pan. His back was still turned as she crept up behind him and raised the frying pan. Sensing her, he turned around just in time to have Buffy slam the pan onto his cheek. He went flying back into the counter and landed hard on the floor. He wasn't completely out of it and was able to stand up and ward off the next blow.
"Buffy! Stop." Angel said. He pried the pan out of her grasp and tossed it aside with a loud clang.
She didn't stop though. Buffy threw punch after punch at Angel. He dodged a lot of them, but she was too quick. More blows landed on him than he could count and eventually, she got in one really good one and he was down. Quickly, she dragged him downstairs and tied him to a post with a thick rope. He was still out as she went upstairs and straightened up the mess in the kitchen.
The light came back and she was in the corner now. Joyce sat on the bed and stared at her. Hank was not there at the moment, but Buffy knew that he was still near. The light came back again and she was standing at the sink staring at the frying pan she had hit Angel with.
"Hello! I'm back! Clean and with the better smell now. Friends? Romans? Anyone?" Xander called. He came into the kitchen and saw Buffy standing at the sink. "Hey." She didn't respond. "Hey, there, sane girl. So did Willow get that antidote to you all right?"
"Yeah. I'm better now."
"Great. So, it's settled. We're, uh, we're real, right? Guess we should finish off that demon and drag it out of the basement. And tell me you're up for that. I so don't wanna see Spike right now. I mean, talk about losing touch. Hate to say it, but I almost feel sorry for the guy. Almost. The things the poor guy was saying.. I mean, I get it, you know. Been a part of the Buffy obsess.."
Xander didn't get to finish. Buffy hit him in the face with the frying pan. He reeled back. Buffy dropped the pan, grabbed Xander and threw him against the kitchen island, her hands on his neck.
"B..Buffy!" Xander gasped.
She pulled him up again and hit him a couple of times. He went down. Buffy dragged him down the stairs and tossed him on the floor. Xander lifted his head and saw Angel attached to a pole and Willow bound and gagged on the floor.
"Willow? Angel.." Xander managed before he passed out.
Buffy tied Xander up and left to get Dawn. She walked to the bottom of the steps leading to the second floor and called up, "Dawn?"
No one answered. Buffy went up the stairs and opened Dawn's door. The younger Summers was packing a bag.
"Don't you knock?" Dawn asked.
"I called for you." Buffy said.
"Buffy, are you ok?"
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going over to Janice's, where they actually like having me around."
"You're not going anywhere."
"Why not? You want me gone anyway. What do you care?"
"I care. You're going downstairs with the others. It's the only way I can get healthy."
Dawn started to back away as Buffy stepped toward her. "What are you talking about? Buffy, you look sick. What are you doing? What's wrong with you?" Buffy tried to grab Dawn, but she jumped away. "Stay away from me!" She started to run, screaming, "Willow, help!" She ran into Willow's room and shut the door. "Buffy, please!"
Buffy walked slowly down the hall. "You can't hide Dawn."
"Talk to me. You're hallucinating."
"I know. You're just a trap for my mind."
"Buffy, please, listen to me. That asylum and those people, they're not real!"
Buffy frowned and kicked the door open. Dawn was nowhere to be found. Buffy turned around and walked to Willow's door. Dawn gasped in surprise as Buffy stopped and stared.
"Buffy.. look at me. I'm right here. You're my sister. I need you and love you. Somewhere inside you must know that's real."
"Sure it is. 'Cause what's more real? A sick girl in an institution.."
"Don't. Please. Listen to me."
"Or some kind of super girl.. chosen to.. fight demons and.. save the world. That's ridiculous." Dawn quickly grabbed the door and slammed it in Buffy's face. Buffy kicked it open again. Dawn screamed and jumped back. "A girl who sleeps with the vampire she hates?! A girl that marries a vampire that she should have killed a long time ago and is now pregnant by him? Yeah, that makes sense."
Dawn tried to run around the bed but Buffy rolled across it and wound up in front of Dawn. She grabbed Dawn by the arms and shoved her up against a dresser, then onto the floor. Dawn struggled as Buffy straddled her and pinned her down.
"No! Buffy, stop! I'm real!" Dawn screamed.
Buffy pulled the phone chord from the dresser and bound Dawn's wrists and feet with it. Then she practically carried a screaming Dawn down to the kitchen. Buffy still held her as she pulled out a large knife from one of the kitchen drawers. Dawn's eyes widened. "Buffy! Please! No!"
Buffy held tightly to the knife and dragged Dawn down the steps. She dropped Dawn to the floor.
"Buffy, stop it. I'll be good! I promise. You're not thinking. I'll.." Dawn cried. Buffy put a piece of duct tape over her mouth and left her squirming on the floor, squealing and whining.
"It's ok Buffy, don't stress yourself." The doctor said.
The light came again and she was back in her hospital room.
"Honey, take your time." Joyce said.
"Make it as easy on yourself as possible. There's nothing wrong with that."
Buffy nodded and allowed the light to take her over again and bring her back to the basement. She looked over at Angel who was just now coming around. His eyes widened as he saw the knife clutched in her hand.
"Buffy, what are you doing?" Angel asked.
She walked past him and went behind the demon. Buffy reached out and undid the chains holding the thing. Angel started to struggle with the rope that held him, but he wasn't able to budge them. She just stood and watched as the demon advanced.
"Buffy, help me! I need my hands sweetie!" Angel said.
Buffy backed into the little alcove under the stairs and watched anxiously as Angel fought with his legs against the demon.
The demon grabbed Angel's shoulder and pulled, hard enough to break the ropes binding him. It threw him across the room. He slammed into a refrigerator and fell down.
The light came again and Joyce was calling her name.
"Buffy?"
Buffy jumped off the bed, whimpering. She ran over to the corner and pressed herself into it, twitching and whimpering. Joyce looked concerned and walked towards her.
"I..It's gonna be okay, sweetheart. Whatever it is, it's not real, remember? Just keep concentrating. I'm right here, sweetie."
Buffy slid down the wall as the light came back.
"Buffy! Help me!" Angel said. He was trying to stand back up, but the demon kept knocking him down. "Buffy, help!"
"Willow?" Tara called from the top of the steps.
Buffy looked up in surprise as Tara came partway down the stairs and peered down. Willow tried to call to Tara through her gag.
"Eximete!" Tara said. The bonds on Willow, Dawn, and Xander disappear and they all sat up. "Vis zenobia! S..solvere!" The metal shelf went flying into the demon and knocked it back. Tara started to walk down the steps, but Buffy reached up and grabbed her ankle. She flew forward down the steps.
"No! Tara!" Willow cried.
The light came again and Buffy was in the corner, Joyce crouching in front of her.
"I don't know.." Buffy said.
"Buffy, look at me."
"I don't know. I don't know."
"I believe in you. You're a survivor, you can do this."
Buffy was so conflicted. The light came again and she was staring at her stomach, the knife clutched firmly in her hand.
"Buffy, don't!" Angel yelled as he saw her holding the knife over her stomach.
She glanced up at the fight going on in front of her. Xander jumped up and attacked the demon, which was attacking Dawn. Dawn screamed. Angel jumped on the demon from behind. It grabbed him and threw him down.
"Angel, no!" Buffy said.
The demon was again struggling with Dawn. It threw her across the room, still screaming, as Willow picked up a metal baseball bat. Willow started hitting the demon with the bat, then it grabbed the bat and shoved her down. Buffy looked anguished and started to call Angel's name as the light came back.
"ANGEL!"
"Buffy? Buffy! Buffy, fight it. You're too good to give in, you can beat this thing. Be strong, baby, ok? I know you're afraid. I know the world feels like a hard place sometimes, but you've got people who love you. Your dad and I, we have all the faith in the world in you. We'll always be with you." Joyce said.
Buffy started to calm down as the words that Joyce was saying sunk in.
"You've got.. a world of strength in your heart. I know you do. You just have to find it again. Believe in yourself." Joyce continued.
Buffy turned her head to look at her mother. "You're right. Thank you." Joyce smiled.
"Good bye." Buffy looked away.
"Buffy!?"
The light washed over her a final time and then she was standing in her basement. She walked forward, kicked the demon in the chest, hit it, and shoved it against the wall. She punched it, threw it into the washer/dryer, walked over to it, and punched it so hard her hand went into its chest. The demon fell down, dead. Buffy stood there with her hand covered in its slimy gray blood.
Dawn was huddled by the refrigerator, Xander picked himself up, Willow and Tara were helping each other up, and Angel stood just behind Buffy. They all stared at her.
"I'm so sorry." Buffy whispered.
"Buffy? We're okay. It's all okay." Angel said. Buffy stumbled forwards as she tried to grab onto him. "Buffy, sit down. You'll fall over."
"No.. I can't. Not until I have the antidote."
"Okay. We..we'll make more, we'll take care of it." Willow said.
"Everything's gonna be okay, baby." Angel said, stroking her hair.
He led her upstairs and put her into bed. She forced him to lay with her. The two laid in bed holing onto her stomach. She was so mad at herself for trying to kill their baby. Angel didn't blame her though. He had already forgiven and forgotten.
An hour later, Willow came in and gave Buffy another mug of the antidote. She thanked Willow as the red head left and then looked at Angel.
"It looks like blood from the black plague." Buffy cringed.
"I know, but it'll make you better. Drink up." Angel said.
She scowled at the thick, dark liquid, plugged her nose, and drank in one swig. The look on her face was priceless and it made Angel laugh out loud. Buffy looked at him a little hurt and he pulled her into a tight hug.
"That sucked!" Buffy said.
"Want me to get you something to eat to get rid of the taste?"
"No. Last time you tried to cook for me, you ended up unconscious." Buffy sighed. "I'm fine. I just wanna get back to normal. Well, as normal as I'm ever going to get."
Angel smiled and kissed his wife for the first time in a long while. Why he ever thought that she could have a normal life, he would never figure out. Every day after he had left her standing on the street, he had kicked himself for doing it. It took a lot not to run back to her, grab her into his loving arms, tell her that he did and always would love her, and never let her go again. But fate had had a different plan for the two of them. They were meant to be and that was fine with him.
Buffy stared off again as the light came back. She got up from her bed and walked downstairs to find everyone. Entering the living room, she bumped into Willow and Angel.
"Oh, Buffy, I.. I didn't see you. We were just coming to check on you. You feeling better? Did the antidote work?" Willow asked.
"I'm.. still pretty dazed, but, uh, better." Buffy replied.
"No more cuckoo's nest? Well, we still have the big bad all tranked out down in the basement. In case it didn't work and we need more parts."
"It'll be nice to see you all better." Angel said.
"Thanks." Buffy said.
"I can make you some food, something big with energy, help you clear your head. Come on." Angel took her hand and led her into the kitchen. "Oh, I'll be right back. I need to get something from the car."
Angel left Willow and Buffy standing in the kitchen. Willow turned to watch him go, leaving her back open to Buffy. Which was when the blonde attacked. She slammed Willow on the back and sent her face first into the wall, knocking her out. Moving swiftly, Buffy grabbed some duct tape and wrapped Willow's feet and hands together. She took a small strip and placed it over Willow's mouth. Then, Buffy dragged the former witch down into the basement and left her. By the time Buffy got back upstairs, Angel was coming back in.
"Hey Buffy, where'd Willow go?" Angel asked.
"Oh, um, I think she said she needed to use the bathroom." Buffy answered.
"Ok." He looked at her funny. "Well, lets get to work on that brunch, huh?"
"Yeah."
He started to gather things up to make the brunch and Buffy watched him.
*Angel's going to be harder to take down.* She thought to herself. *He's going to take a bit of work.*
Angel put a frying pan on the stove, but didn't turn it on. He turned to the sink and started to peel something over it, leaving his back open to Buffy. Silently, she slipped over and grabbed the pan. His back was still turned as she crept up behind him and raised the frying pan. Sensing her, he turned around just in time to have Buffy slam the pan onto his cheek. He went flying back into the counter and landed hard on the floor. He wasn't completely out of it and was able to stand up and ward off the next blow.
"Buffy! Stop." Angel said. He pried the pan out of her grasp and tossed it aside with a loud clang.
She didn't stop though. Buffy threw punch after punch at Angel. He dodged a lot of them, but she was too quick. More blows landed on him than he could count and eventually, she got in one really good one and he was down. Quickly, she dragged him downstairs and tied him to a post with a thick rope. He was still out as she went upstairs and straightened up the mess in the kitchen.
The light came back and she was in the corner now. Joyce sat on the bed and stared at her. Hank was not there at the moment, but Buffy knew that he was still near. The light came back again and she was standing at the sink staring at the frying pan she had hit Angel with.
"Hello! I'm back! Clean and with the better smell now. Friends? Romans? Anyone?" Xander called. He came into the kitchen and saw Buffy standing at the sink. "Hey." She didn't respond. "Hey, there, sane girl. So did Willow get that antidote to you all right?"
"Yeah. I'm better now."
"Great. So, it's settled. We're, uh, we're real, right? Guess we should finish off that demon and drag it out of the basement. And tell me you're up for that. I so don't wanna see Spike right now. I mean, talk about losing touch. Hate to say it, but I almost feel sorry for the guy. Almost. The things the poor guy was saying.. I mean, I get it, you know. Been a part of the Buffy obsess.."
Xander didn't get to finish. Buffy hit him in the face with the frying pan. He reeled back. Buffy dropped the pan, grabbed Xander and threw him against the kitchen island, her hands on his neck.
"B..Buffy!" Xander gasped.
She pulled him up again and hit him a couple of times. He went down. Buffy dragged him down the stairs and tossed him on the floor. Xander lifted his head and saw Angel attached to a pole and Willow bound and gagged on the floor.
"Willow? Angel.." Xander managed before he passed out.
Buffy tied Xander up and left to get Dawn. She walked to the bottom of the steps leading to the second floor and called up, "Dawn?"
No one answered. Buffy went up the stairs and opened Dawn's door. The younger Summers was packing a bag.
"Don't you knock?" Dawn asked.
"I called for you." Buffy said.
"Buffy, are you ok?"
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going over to Janice's, where they actually like having me around."
"You're not going anywhere."
"Why not? You want me gone anyway. What do you care?"
"I care. You're going downstairs with the others. It's the only way I can get healthy."
Dawn started to back away as Buffy stepped toward her. "What are you talking about? Buffy, you look sick. What are you doing? What's wrong with you?" Buffy tried to grab Dawn, but she jumped away. "Stay away from me!" She started to run, screaming, "Willow, help!" She ran into Willow's room and shut the door. "Buffy, please!"
Buffy walked slowly down the hall. "You can't hide Dawn."
"Talk to me. You're hallucinating."
"I know. You're just a trap for my mind."
"Buffy, please, listen to me. That asylum and those people, they're not real!"
Buffy frowned and kicked the door open. Dawn was nowhere to be found. Buffy turned around and walked to Willow's door. Dawn gasped in surprise as Buffy stopped and stared.
"Buffy.. look at me. I'm right here. You're my sister. I need you and love you. Somewhere inside you must know that's real."
"Sure it is. 'Cause what's more real? A sick girl in an institution.."
"Don't. Please. Listen to me."
"Or some kind of super girl.. chosen to.. fight demons and.. save the world. That's ridiculous." Dawn quickly grabbed the door and slammed it in Buffy's face. Buffy kicked it open again. Dawn screamed and jumped back. "A girl who sleeps with the vampire she hates?! A girl that marries a vampire that she should have killed a long time ago and is now pregnant by him? Yeah, that makes sense."
Dawn tried to run around the bed but Buffy rolled across it and wound up in front of Dawn. She grabbed Dawn by the arms and shoved her up against a dresser, then onto the floor. Dawn struggled as Buffy straddled her and pinned her down.
"No! Buffy, stop! I'm real!" Dawn screamed.
Buffy pulled the phone chord from the dresser and bound Dawn's wrists and feet with it. Then she practically carried a screaming Dawn down to the kitchen. Buffy still held her as she pulled out a large knife from one of the kitchen drawers. Dawn's eyes widened. "Buffy! Please! No!"
Buffy held tightly to the knife and dragged Dawn down the steps. She dropped Dawn to the floor.
"Buffy, stop it. I'll be good! I promise. You're not thinking. I'll.." Dawn cried. Buffy put a piece of duct tape over her mouth and left her squirming on the floor, squealing and whining.
"It's ok Buffy, don't stress yourself." The doctor said.
The light came again and she was back in her hospital room.
"Honey, take your time." Joyce said.
"Make it as easy on yourself as possible. There's nothing wrong with that."
Buffy nodded and allowed the light to take her over again and bring her back to the basement. She looked over at Angel who was just now coming around. His eyes widened as he saw the knife clutched in her hand.
"Buffy, what are you doing?" Angel asked.
She walked past him and went behind the demon. Buffy reached out and undid the chains holding the thing. Angel started to struggle with the rope that held him, but he wasn't able to budge them. She just stood and watched as the demon advanced.
"Buffy, help me! I need my hands sweetie!" Angel said.
Buffy backed into the little alcove under the stairs and watched anxiously as Angel fought with his legs against the demon.
The demon grabbed Angel's shoulder and pulled, hard enough to break the ropes binding him. It threw him across the room. He slammed into a refrigerator and fell down.
The light came again and Joyce was calling her name.
"Buffy?"
Buffy jumped off the bed, whimpering. She ran over to the corner and pressed herself into it, twitching and whimpering. Joyce looked concerned and walked towards her.
"I..It's gonna be okay, sweetheart. Whatever it is, it's not real, remember? Just keep concentrating. I'm right here, sweetie."
Buffy slid down the wall as the light came back.
"Buffy! Help me!" Angel said. He was trying to stand back up, but the demon kept knocking him down. "Buffy, help!"
"Willow?" Tara called from the top of the steps.
Buffy looked up in surprise as Tara came partway down the stairs and peered down. Willow tried to call to Tara through her gag.
"Eximete!" Tara said. The bonds on Willow, Dawn, and Xander disappear and they all sat up. "Vis zenobia! S..solvere!" The metal shelf went flying into the demon and knocked it back. Tara started to walk down the steps, but Buffy reached up and grabbed her ankle. She flew forward down the steps.
"No! Tara!" Willow cried.
The light came again and Buffy was in the corner, Joyce crouching in front of her.
"I don't know.." Buffy said.
"Buffy, look at me."
"I don't know. I don't know."
"I believe in you. You're a survivor, you can do this."
Buffy was so conflicted. The light came again and she was staring at her stomach, the knife clutched firmly in her hand.
"Buffy, don't!" Angel yelled as he saw her holding the knife over her stomach.
She glanced up at the fight going on in front of her. Xander jumped up and attacked the demon, which was attacking Dawn. Dawn screamed. Angel jumped on the demon from behind. It grabbed him and threw him down.
"Angel, no!" Buffy said.
The demon was again struggling with Dawn. It threw her across the room, still screaming, as Willow picked up a metal baseball bat. Willow started hitting the demon with the bat, then it grabbed the bat and shoved her down. Buffy looked anguished and started to call Angel's name as the light came back.
"ANGEL!"
"Buffy? Buffy! Buffy, fight it. You're too good to give in, you can beat this thing. Be strong, baby, ok? I know you're afraid. I know the world feels like a hard place sometimes, but you've got people who love you. Your dad and I, we have all the faith in the world in you. We'll always be with you." Joyce said.
Buffy started to calm down as the words that Joyce was saying sunk in.
"You've got.. a world of strength in your heart. I know you do. You just have to find it again. Believe in yourself." Joyce continued.
Buffy turned her head to look at her mother. "You're right. Thank you." Joyce smiled.
"Good bye." Buffy looked away.
"Buffy!?"
The light washed over her a final time and then she was standing in her basement. She walked forward, kicked the demon in the chest, hit it, and shoved it against the wall. She punched it, threw it into the washer/dryer, walked over to it, and punched it so hard her hand went into its chest. The demon fell down, dead. Buffy stood there with her hand covered in its slimy gray blood.
Dawn was huddled by the refrigerator, Xander picked himself up, Willow and Tara were helping each other up, and Angel stood just behind Buffy. They all stared at her.
"I'm so sorry." Buffy whispered.
"Buffy? We're okay. It's all okay." Angel said. Buffy stumbled forwards as she tried to grab onto him. "Buffy, sit down. You'll fall over."
"No.. I can't. Not until I have the antidote."
"Okay. We..we'll make more, we'll take care of it." Willow said.
"Everything's gonna be okay, baby." Angel said, stroking her hair.
He led her upstairs and put her into bed. She forced him to lay with her. The two laid in bed holing onto her stomach. She was so mad at herself for trying to kill their baby. Angel didn't blame her though. He had already forgiven and forgotten.
An hour later, Willow came in and gave Buffy another mug of the antidote. She thanked Willow as the red head left and then looked at Angel.
"It looks like blood from the black plague." Buffy cringed.
"I know, but it'll make you better. Drink up." Angel said.
She scowled at the thick, dark liquid, plugged her nose, and drank in one swig. The look on her face was priceless and it made Angel laugh out loud. Buffy looked at him a little hurt and he pulled her into a tight hug.
"That sucked!" Buffy said.
"Want me to get you something to eat to get rid of the taste?"
"No. Last time you tried to cook for me, you ended up unconscious." Buffy sighed. "I'm fine. I just wanna get back to normal. Well, as normal as I'm ever going to get."
Angel smiled and kissed his wife for the first time in a long while. Why he ever thought that she could have a normal life, he would never figure out. Every day after he had left her standing on the street, he had kicked himself for doing it. It took a lot not to run back to her, grab her into his loving arms, tell her that he did and always would love her, and never let her go again. But fate had had a different plan for the two of them. They were meant to be and that was fine with him.