In a world of his own

---

CONTINUED FROM "WHEN YOUR EYES SAY IT"

SPOILERS: If you haven't watched THE GIFT then there's a big spoiler here.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters. They belong to Joss & Co.

There has never been a close connection with Angel and (I won't say, you'll find out), so I thought it was a good idea to bring their bond closer....

---

Fred was staring curiously at Angel. What the hell was he doing? He hadn't talked to anyone all day, so she stood there watching him walk up and down the room.

"Is he alright?" Fred finally asked Cordelia who was busy filing out papers.

"He's been trying to think how he can bring back Buffy," Cordelia answered. She didn't even look up at Fred when she replied, "I don't know how though".

Angel had not kept still for the whole day. He ignored everyone and his surroundings. He only allowed his thoughts near him. He had to get Buffy back somehow, but was there a way?

"The Host" Angel conclusively mumbled a result.

"Who did he say?" Wesley asked as he straightened his glasses, "That's the only thing he's said all day, so it must be important".

"He said the Host" Gunn answered.

"Okay, maybe not as important as I thought"

Angel walked out of his room, past the office, and down towards the Host's nightclub. He could feel the eyes of his friends watch him as he closed the glass doors.

---

"You can help me," Angel pointed to the Host and he pushed past the tables that got in his way.

"Hang on there!" The Host cried out in alarmed and then after a minute he wiped away his annoyance as he read something from Angel's mind, "You've lost Buffy" he whispered to Angel and realised how badly the pain was beating him up.

"And you're going to help me get her back. TELL ME!" Angel yelled and he went down onto his knees, "TELL ME! I WANT BUFFY BACK!" and his eyes gushed out a gallon of tears.

"Angel" The Host whispered timidly, "I can't help you on this. Your mind is completely blocked now"

Angel was still crying. He didn't want to cry, but this was helping him whether he believed it or not. He was relieving all the hurt and anger when he cried, but this wasn't enough. He couldn't keep crying. This wouldn't help to get Buffy back, but something had to. There was always something....

"I want to help" spoke a mild voice. Angel could tell that the voice had obviously been crying and he could tell who this was.

"Spike" Angel whispered without turning around to face him.

"Please... I want to help" Spike repeated and he walked towards Angel who had his head cupped into his hands.

"And why should I let you? I know you love Buffy, but I also know that you can't compete with me either" Angel spoke harshly to him while the Host stood in confusion.

"I don't care" Spike told him, "I don't care, because all I want is Buffy back and from there I don't care who has her. I just want her alive.... Please. I don't want to compete with you, I just want to help you and if Buffy had to choose, she'd choose you anyway, so who's getting the good deal here? I want Buffy as much alive as you do, Angel, and you've got to remember that it's you and Buffy forever not me and Buffy" Spike croaked out the last words. He couldn't say that, but he knew that he was telling the truth.

Angel was hit hard by Spike's words. He understood Spike's pains more than his own. They had never had anything much in common- (apart from both being vampires) until now. They both wanted Buffy back no matter what.

"I know that losing Buffy is hurting you more, because you saw her die. You saw her die to save her sister and the world, didn't you?" Angel asked as he swayed his head around to look at Spike.

He looked a mess. His eyes were red from crying, his skin was dry from not eating.

"Yes, I did. I saw her jump and fall and then finally collapse and die" Spike recalled and scenes of her death came rushing back into his mind. They were hurting him. He didn't want to remember how Buffy died or how she looked. Spike was in absolute torture.

"Don't remember that" Angel advised him as he could tell that Spike was recalling that day, "Remember the good times and remember that we'll get her back. We'll work together and we'll get our true love back"....

TO BE CONTINUED....