WOAH! Thank you to everyone that sent me feedback on the last part that I just sent out. Thanks! Just like last time, I feel so happy now!

Mistakes are purely my fault...I'm not the world's greatest typist.
Disclaimer in part 1!
Feedback is much appreciated @ LuVnAnGeLNBuFfY@aol.com

Finding Herself (5/?)
By *~Rachel*~


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"It's me!" Angel shouted to Glory unexpectedly. "The key...it's me!"

Buffy froze. She felt as though the air had been knocked out of her and she had just been kicked in the stomach. NO! She thought. No, Angel is NOT going to sacrifice himself for this. She looked at him and couldn't read his eyes. What is he doing? "Angel..." she started.

"SHUT up." Glory commanded, pushing Buffy to the floor.

After everything that she had just gone through, Buffy could only sit there on the rocky floor of the caves, watching Glory walk around Angel. God, no. She thought. Angel, I won't let you do this. You've got your own thing...up in LA. You can't die. People need you. Buffy couldn't even think clearly. I need you.

"So...the helper's got a name." Glory said, walking around Angel. "Angel, hmm?" Angel tried to get free...tried to break out of the minions' grasp, but found it too hard. Angel looked down at Buffy. Get out of here, he thought. Buffy...my love, please go. He was silently commanding to her. However, all she could do was sit there, stunned into silence.

"Ooh, he's a feisty one, I'll tell you that." Glory said. "So...you say you're my key..." Glory stopped and took a second, looking him over and moving in to quickly smell him. "Sorry hon, that's impossible. The key is a PURE thing. YOU are a vampire." She said to Angel. "I can smell it."

"I'm a vampire, so what?" Angel asked back to her. "You think a vampire would help a Slayer? I may be a vampire, but I'm different. I've got a soul." Glory gave him a blank look. "What, you don't know what a soul is?" He asked back to her. "It's my human heart...that *IS* the key. I've been in LA to escape from you. Buffy called me down when you kidnapped Dawn. I'm the key, dammit. Let Buffy go."

Angel...please, no. Buffy thought. She couldn't bear the thought of Angel now leaving her too. This was her fight...he shouldn't have even been butting in at all. This was her problem...now Angel was going to get killed for it.

Glory thought about it for a second more. "Fine." She started to walk away from Angel, going back to where her spell supplies were set up. "Jinx, Murk. Tie him up." The two minions began dragging Angel over to the rock where Dawn had once been. "Slayer, get out. I no longer need you." Glory said back to Buffy.

Finally, Buffy snapped out of her shock and uneasily stood to her feet. This was her chance. She could get back to Giles...heal up, and head back out to get Angel. She looked around her at the materials for the spell. What would happen to him? Buffy looked over at Angel with nothing but fear and panic in her eyes. She held onto her right side, supporting her bruised and broken ribs.

"No. Angel! Don't do this." She said over to him, beginning to walk over to him. She could get him out...she could do this.

"Buffy, just get out." He replied, looking over at her. His voice stopped her walking.

"Angel-"

"Buffy!" Angel yelled at her. She actually saw his eyes flash his demonic yellow, signaling that he was both angry and passionate about carrying this out. "Buffy..." his voice was calmer...smoother. "Just go."

Finally, with one longing look back at Angel, Buffy turned and began limping out of the caves. I'm coming back for you, Angel. I'm coming back.

As Buffy walked out of the caves, she heard Glory yelling at Angel. Suddenly, Angel let out a scream of pure agony and pain. Oh God...is she starting already? Buffy thought. Gradually, her pace turned into a steady run. She ran as fast as she could...faster than the wind, all the way back to Giles' house.

TBC....
What do you think?