Disclaimer: I don't own them and the only thing I receive
from this is the satisfaction from writing it.
Spoiler: Any episode is fair game for spoiler's
here
Feedback: Please
Author's Note: The song is Let it Rain by Amanda
Marshall
Echo's
From The Past
Chapter
1
Buffy collapsed onto her bed and closed her eyes to the
coming darkness. She welcomed it readily and hoped that with it came a
dreamless oblivion. Her dreams usually were of him and she didn't want to dream
of him tonight. She didn't think she could bare it, not after what happened
earlier that day.
It had been a bad day for Buffy from the moment she
rolled out of bed 45 minutes late for work. It just kind of spiraled downward
from there. First she stubbed her toe on the way to the bathroom, then her
shower was cold, she ran out of her favorite vanilla honeysuckle shampoo and
her favorite blouse had a stain of unknown origin on it.
When she got downstairs she found the milk for her
coffee was sour and the coffee was too strong, she had burnt her toast and then
she couldn't find her car keys. When she finally did find the damned things she
couldn't get her car to start. Her taxi was another 20 minutes late and by the
time she had set foot into the office she was ready to call it a day.
Buffy worked for Willow as a personal assistant.
Willow had become a Doctor of both medicinal and holistic approach. She worked
in an office with two other traditional doctors and although Buffy helped the
other receptionist cover the other doctors Buffy handled Willow's affairs
personally.
Buffy had her own private office right beside
Willow's where she had all the files on Willow's patients. She hung her sweater
behind the door and dropped her bag on her desk. She picked up her hands free
headset and headed to the front desk.
Buffy picked up her messages and looked over her
patients for the day. She was fully booked, double booked in some cases even.
Damn.
"Morning Buffy."
"Morning Susan, sorry I'm late it's just shaping up
to be one of those days."
A mother of one of the patients approached the
desk.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry but my daughter just threw up
on the floor."
"Okay we'll take care of it, like I said Suz one of
those days."
If Buffy had known the extent of it she might have
opted to stay home in bed.
By lunch time she'd had five late patients, four no
shows, three children had vomited in the waiting room, two had peed themselves
and the bathroom had overflowed thanks to an overzealous three year old in the
throes of potty training. Buffy grabbed her lunch and a stack of files and made
for her office.
"Susan can you handle the desk?" Buffy asked.
"Yea sure, why?"
"I'm going to duck into my office and multi-task."
She replied as she held up her files in one hand and lunch in the other. Susan
just laughed and turned back to a patient that had walked up.
Buffy was hunched over her desk writing away with
one hand while trying to stuff a forkful of macaroni salad into her mouth with
the other so she didn't see Willow standing in the doorway.
Willow took a moment to regard her friend. Buffy
looked tired and thin. The years had been difficult for her and they were beginning
to take their toll on Buffy physically.
"You know I'm sure we could survive long enough for
you to take a few minutes to actually enjoy your lunch."
"I know Will, I am just having one of those days
and I'm a little behind. Besides if I allow my brain to think about nothing
then it will think about him and I just can't handle that right now."
"Alright suit yourself, oh by the way I have a new
patient coming in this afternoon for a consult visit do you think you could
meet him and get the vitals?"
"Why is it Will that I always get to do the male
patients?"
"You just seem to relate better to guys. Thank you
so much for doing this Buffy. I owe you. Susan will let you know when he gets
here."
"Yea you bet your life you owe me."
Buffy went back to her paperwork and had almost
gotten through the whole stack when she heard it.
"Buffy?"
One word.
Just one simple word.
Just one simple word that flipped her world
upside-down and shook her to her very core.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Liam had walked into the doctor's office and walked
up to the front desk.
"Can I help you?" Susan asked.
"Yes my name is Liam O'Neill and I have a new
patient consultation today with Dr. Rosenberg."
Susan shuffled some papers on her desk until she
found Dr. Rosenberg's appointment book. She ran her finger down the page until
Liam's name caught her eye. There was a note that Buffy not Willow would be
conducting the consult.
"Okay Liam if you come through the door and go down
the hall here to the right, about three doors down is an office. In there you
should find Buffy, she's doing your consult. She is Dr. Rosenberg's personal
assistant."
"Thank you."
Liam made his way down the hall and looked into the
office at the girl sitting behind the desk. He couldn't believe it. It was the
girl who had been haunting his dreams for the last tens years.
There were subtle differences between the vision
before him and the goddess of his dreams. For instance her hair was a warm
honey brown instead of the flaxen gold he remembered and slightly longer. Even
though she was sitting he could see that although thin she was curvaceous, a
body matured with time where as his girl was just that, a girl of maybe twenty or
so. She looked pale and tired as evidenced by the bags under her eyes but all
and all she was the girl from his dreams.
She was
real, she was the reason he had found his way back to Sunnydale. It took him a
moment to compose himself before speaking her name.
"Buffy?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy looked up at the owner of the voice cursing
the Power's for playing with her heart like they did. I mean how cruel was it
to have somebody have his voice standing in her office. Her gaze trailed up…
and his build…
(and up.)
and his face…
Buffy visibly paled when her hazel met his
chocolate brown. She couldn't believe it, he was here after all these years. He
had promised to find his way back to her and although it had taken entirely
much too long for her liking here he was.
Angel.
Her beloved Angel.
She was about to launch herself over her desk and
into his arms when he spoke, shattering her heart instantly.
"Are you Buffy? The girl at the desk said I could
find Buffy back here. I'm supposed to have a new patient consult with her now."
He didn't know her? How could he not know her? This
was Angel she could feel it. She knew it in her soul but he didn't know her.
Buffy took a deep breath and held her hand out to
him.
"Yes I'm Buffy. It's nice to meet you."
"I'm Liam O'Neill."
Buffy braced herself for his touch long since
denied. 'Angel's' hand engulfed hers, cradled it really in his palm. A bolt of
fire ran up the length of Buffy's arm and straight to her heart sending a rush
of warmth through her. The electricity in the air between them, caused by them,
crackled and hummed and was almost palpable.
For a moment they seemed to be locked like that and
helpless to do anything about it. A whimper escaped Buffy's throat as the
sensations flooded her. It took everything in her not to launch herself into
his arms.
Finally almost reluctantly 'Angel' let her go and
Buffy struggled to find her voice.
"Liam…that's Irish right?" Her voice was shaky at
best.
"Yea it is." Liam didn't seem to be faring any
better.
Buffy then set out to get a background history on
Angel…or rather Liam O'Neill. The most interesting thing being that Liam was in
fact single.
As Buffy asked the list of questions in her new
patient package she took the opportunity to really look at 'Angel'. He was still stunningly beautiful. He was
after all preserved quite well at age twenty-six to technically he was just
under forty now. He was still muscular and lean and Buffy knew she would still
fit perfectly against him.
He was tanned and the sun had lightened his once
dark locks to a color almost matching her own. He had just the tiniest hint of
gray starting but you wouldn't notice it unless you were scrutinizing every
last little detail of him like Buffy was doing. However the most dramatic thing
about him was his eyes. He still had that intensely soulful stare that
penetrated you to your very being but gone was the guilt and the eternal pain.
I guess not remembering what or who he was freed his soul.
When Buffy had finished with Liam she watched as
her hearts desire walked out of her office. Buffy dropped her head in her hands
and tried desperately to control the grief and shock that hit her so intensely
it almost made her physically ill.
"Hey Buffy are you okay? Buffy?"
Buffy looked up at Susan her eyes wet with tears
that were dangerously close.
"Actually Susan I'm not. I have to leave. Tell
Willow I'm sorry but I got sick to my stomach."
With that Buffy was on her feet, her bag in hand,
and she was out the door.
Buffy found herself at a quaint bar down a ways from
the office and she was desperately trying to find solace in the bottom of a
bottle of wine, solace and peace. She listened to the song that played in the
background and tried not to remember what she couldn't forget.
I have given, I have given and got none
Still I'm driven by something I can't explain
It's not a cross it is a choice
I cannot help but hear his voice
I only wish that I could listen without shame
Let it rain
Let it rain on me
Let it rain oh let it rain
Let it rain on me
I have been a witness to the perfect crime
I wipe the grin off of my face to hide the blame
It isn't worth the tears you've cried
To have a perfect alibi
Now I'm beaten at the hands of my own game
Let it rain
Let it rain on me
Let it rain oh let it rain
Let it rain on me
It isn't easy to be kind with all the demons in my
mind
I only hope one day I'll be free, I do my best not
to complain
My face is dirty from the strain, I only hope one
day I'll come clean
Let it rain
Let it rain on me
Let it rain oh let it rain
Let it rain on me
Come take my hand
We can walk to the light and without fear
We can see through the darkest night
~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Battle of the End of Days: Ten Years Ago
Sunnydale 2001
The end of day's battle had come upon them quickly
and had caught them off guard. One moment everything was fine and then the next
the Hellmouth was open and every demon imaginable had been spewed forth to
rampage the small town.
Buffy and the gang had moved into action
immediately but it was overwhelming and within a few days the small town of
Sunnydale, California looked like a war zone and it was all Buffy could do to
keep the death count to the demons.
Buffy had organized the evacuation of homes and
herded the townsfolk into the university. She had set up living quarters and a
medical area as well as recruited a small army to help keep the beasts at bay.
Luckily some of the Initiative were still around and they were able to bring in
reinforcements, among them being Riley Finn.
However Buffy still needed extra muscle so even
though it had been almost a year since she had told Angel to keep out of her
life she didn't hesitate to call him now.
~*~*~*~*~
Los Angeles Ten Years Ago 2001
Angel had been on edge for the past few days. Demon
activity had all but completely dropped. It was calm, too calm, like the calm
before the storm. So he waited and when the call had come in from Sunnydale he
wasn't surprised. He hadn't been there when the call came in but he had a bad
feeling when he saw the message light flashing.
"Angel, I don't know what things are like there for
you but things are crazy here. The Hellmouth has opened and we are swimming in
demons. I'm doing everything I can to keep people alive but there are just so
many demons, some we've never encountered before. I need you Angel. I
desperately need your help. I know things have been difficult for us lately
but…please Angel I can't do this without you. We all need you guys to help stop
this thing. I hope to see you soon. We've set up base at the university. I love
you Angel…I need you to know that in case…please come."
Angel and his crew didn't think twice about coming
to Buffy's aide. When they had arrived they stood and watched as Buffy
delegated not showing one ounce of the fear that Angel clearly heard in her
message.
Gunn stood behind Angel and Cordelia and watched in
awe as the little blond dished out orders and handled things. He was curious
about how she would be in a position of authority and was about to ask Angel
when she turned to them and headed their way.
"Angel thank you so much for coming. Cordelia,
Wesley it's good of you to come too."
Buffy looked past the familiar faces and settled in
on Gunn.
"Hi I'm Buffy."
"Charles Gunn."
"He works with us." Cordelia said.
"Oh okay so then he's up to speed on the whole
existence of demons thing."
Gunn nodded and Buffy then began directing them as
too where she needed them to be.
"Okay Cordelia I need you to go with Willow to help
look after the survivors, Wesley I am sure Giles could use your Watcher
expertise in trying to find a way to seal the Hellmouth, Gunn are you combat
ready?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good." She picked up a portable radio and spoke
into it. "Xander, Xander I need you at the main base now."
Buffy waited for a response but she got only
static.
"Well Gunn once I can track Xander down you will go
with him and he will see to it that you get supplies and get briefed as to our
plan of attack."
Angel was standing back just kind of blending into
the background and he watched Buffy go. She was amazing to watch but he knew
she was terrified. He could smell her fear. It was a siren's call to his demon
within. Angel watched as a young man dressed in fatigues approached Buffy and
Gunn, a young man he knew all too well.
"Buffy?"
"Where's Xander, Riley?"
"Patrol."
"Alright, can you take Gunn here and bring him up
to speed. He needs weapons and supplies and show him where he can stow his gear
and anything else he needs to know."
Riley turned to look at the guy Buffy was referring
to.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Riley demanded
pointing past Gunn at Angel.
Shit, Buffy thought to
herself, just what she didn't need.
"Angel is here to help. We need all the manpower we
can get."
"That is not a man. That is the enemy, a fucking
demon for crying out loud."
"Riley!" Buffy's voice held a warning that both
Riley and Angel knew all too well but Riley foolishly decided to ignore it.
"Jesus Buffy you are supposed to be the vampire
Slayer and he is a vampire, a master vampire at that. He is disgusting. How can
you trust him? He's hurt you Buffy given the chance he'll do it again."
"Shut up Riley."
"No Buffy it's not right that he is here and I know
that the others will agree with me. They'll make him leave. They'll make you…"
Buffy had heard enough and in the blink of an eye
she had Riley pinned to the opposite wall, dangling about a foot off the
ground. Her voice was sharp and cold as ice when she spoke.
"I am only going to say this once so listen very
carefully Riley. I am in charge here so if I say Angel stays then you just
deal. Angel is a warrior for the side of the light and if his being here
fighting with us saves one life then it's worth the discomfort that you and the
others may have to endure. My concern right now is sealing the Hellmouth and
then ridding my town of the filth that has infested it."
The look on her face clearly stated that she
included Riley in the "filth" she was referring to.
Buffy then threw Riley to the ground. He lunged and
made to grab the crossbow on the table to his right but Buffy did a back flip
and got to it first, leveling it off at the commando's head.
"FYI boy, Angel is all man, demon or no and you
touch one hair on his head and I will do will make Angel and his demon look
like a pair of god damned Boy Scouts. Are we clear?"
Riley nodded but he was still fuming.
"He hurt you Buffy he'll do it again. Guys like
that always do."
"Well then Riley I guess I know what I can expect
from you right because like you said guys like you don't change."
"What did I ever do but love you?"
Buffy just let out a sarcastic snort.
"Riley take Gunn and get him suited up. We'll do a
sweep for survivors in two hours."
"You defend a vampire, you're disgusting."
Buffy was about ready to take Riley out and declare
him a casualty of war.
"Right I'm disgusting and you whoring yourself out
to them is so much better right?"
Riley paled at Buffy's statement and then hurriedly
led Gunn to the supply room. Buffy turned back to Angel's questioning stare.
Buffy sighed heavily.
"What?"
Angel just kept staring. He had this uncanny way of
making people confess just by looking them in the eye.
"Alright but just remember you asked. Riley has
been paying vampires to suck his blood."
"He's been doing what? Oh Jesus Buffy. Why?"
"He said he wanted to know what it was that held me
too you. He thought he could understand the depth of our bond with a cheap one
night stand with some vamp bitch who would just as soon drain him."
He suddenly got this funny look on his face before
venturing to ask. "You uh haven't, I
mean…"
SMACK "How could you even think it? I can
count on one hand the number of vamp's that have gotten a taste of this." She
said while caressing her neck. "The Master, Dracula and of course you."
"Right, I'm sorry I…DRACULA, Dracula…. Dracula has
bitten you?" Angel was now pacing and running his hands through his hair.
Buffy slumped her shoulders and internally cursed
herself for bringing him up. She should have known that even his male ego
couldn't handle that confession. She walked over and tried to put her hand on
his shoulder but he bristled.
"Angel…baby, look it didn't mean anything. He did
that thrall thing or mind control mumbo-jumbo. I mean if given the choice it
would be you…. always and only you." Her voice had dropped to almost a whisper.
Angel turned around and faced her. He knew what
Dracula was like; he knew that the "Dark Prince" couldn't resist a shot at
bagging a Slayer. He also knew Buffy wouldn't just let any vamp do that to her.
He took her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
"As much as I am enjoying our moment here we need
to concentrate on the Hellmouth. There will be an eternity to talk after we
close it." Buffy said, reluctantly pulling away from Angel's arms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Present time - 2011
But there hadn't been an eternity. In fact there hadn't
been anything. She had kissed him for luck not goodbye and they said I love you
for strength and they embraced warmly. It all happened so fast and was over
before it had really begun. If only she had known how long it would be before
she would lay eyes on him again she might not have been so quick to let him go.
Buffy lay back on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Tears
that she couldn't control were now streaming down her face. Her mind flashed to
the scenes from earlier that day, from when she heard him say her name for the
first time in ten years. She remembered in vivid detail how, although older and
definitely human, he was still the same after all this time. Everything just
the way she remembered except he didn't remember her.
She reached into the bedside table and pulled out a little
bottle of pills. She hated that she needed them but sometimes when the dreams
stole sleep she took them if anything to keep her sane. She opened it and
pulled out two of the tiny white sleeping pills and downed them with the glass
of wine she had there.
"Sorry Angel, I just can't. It hurts too much
tonight." She whispered to the memories that haunted her, memories of her one
true love.
