The Night Remembers - Part 15
By Jill
AN: Sigh! In one feedback I was reminded that in Angel-Season 2, Lindsey
left L.A. - and of course he did. I forgot to say that for the purpose of
this story I made him come back. He's just a too good villain to miss. Sorry
for that - hope you can forgive!
Three days later
Willow bolted upright on her bed in the dorms from some kind of daydream
when she heard a firm knock on her door. Wearily she ran a hand through her
hair before she got up with a sigh. She didn't know who she expected to be
at her door, but she was truly surprised to see her best friend there. So
far, the slayer had avoided the dorms, or the whole college grounds for that
matter. "Buffy!" she exclaimed happily and gave the blond a smile.
"Hi, Willow," the slayer nervously glanced around. "Can I... come in?"
"Oh," the redhead looked at her bit sheepishly, then stepped aside and
closed the door behind her. "Sorry."
"It's okay." Buffy made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "It's just, I
feel a bit uncomfortable in here. Not in your room," she clarified, "but at
the college. It's just the way I thought I would. A lot of people smile at
me, greet me and I feel... stupid." Frustration was written all over her
face.
"Because you don't remember them." Willow nodded understandingly, then sat
down on her bed and crossed her legs underneath her. After only a short
hesitation Buffy did the same, and the redhead couldn't help the joy she
felt. This was as it had always been. Sitting together on a bed, talking,
even crying, just the way best friends did. "I wouldn't worry. Don't get me
wrong, but you don't really have any close friends around here - just those
who know about your secret identity."
"And why doesn't it surprise me?" the slayer let out a sigh. "Well, I guess,
it's good at the moment. Otherwise they'd think I was rude."
"Nobody would think that," Willow assured her. "But I suppose that isn't the
reason you came. So what's the problem?"
"I... uh... need someone to talk to," the blonde admitted after a moment.
The witch's face lit up, "That would be me! I mean you always confided in me
and we talked about everything. So tell me."
"It's Angel." The words came together with a harsh breath.
"Angel?" Willow raised a brow. "He's in L.A., isn't he?"
"He left last night," Buffy confirmed. "But that's not it. He's so distant,
all business, avoids any private conversation. It's going to drive me nuts!"
she exclaimed finally.
"I see."
"But you don't," the slayer protested, "You have no idea. We kissed," she
said and nodded when she saw her friend's eyes widen. "We did. Several days
ago in the cemetery, after patrol. You know when Cordelia called him."
"Oh! " now it was Willow who nodded. "And?"
"And I remembered. Things. Stuff. From the past. Kissing him, more than once
and even..." she stopped for a moment, blushed slightly and then continued,
"... making love to him or rather him making love to me. It was awesome. And
then I told him I loved him and... and he said he loved me too. It was like
magic, but after five minutes he pulled back and since then he's been...
distant."
The redhead's eyes had widened even more during Buffy's speech, and she
realized that now even her mouth was open in surprise. "He really said
that?" se asked. "That he loves you."
"Yeah. He did. He said he never stopped loving me. And then five minutes
later he began to argue, telling me that I wasn't fit to decide about my
feelings because of my amnesia, that I wasn't able to decide without my
memories. I was shocked at first, but the longer I think about it the
angrier I get. It's such bullshit," she shouted, then clamped her hand over
her mouth and giggled. "Sorry."
Willow made a dismissive gesture with her hand, "Don't apologize. I always
thought Angel was rather stubborn."
"Rather? He is the most stubborn man I ever met ... which doesn't say
anything as I've probably forgotten most of them, but still, I can't imagine
anyone more thickheaded."
The both women shared a laugh at that. "That reminds me," Buffy said after a
moment, "Did you find anything? I mean, you said you'd look into his curse.
Did you find anything interesting?"
Willow shifted uncomfortably on the bed. What was she supposed to do? Angel
had told her not to tell Buffy, she needed to keep this a secret. If the
witch hated anything, it was secrets. She wasn't good at keeping anything
hidden, it simply felt... wrong. On the other hand, she saw the expression
on Angel's face. "I... uh... we're still... investigating," she said
evasively and it wasn't completely wrong. They still were - in a way.
Investigating to find a way to persuade Angel to risk it.
"Oh," the blonde's face fell slightly. Then she shrugged, trying to hide her
feelings, "Well, then, all I can do is wait, I suppose."
"I'm... I'm sorry," Willow put a sympathetic hand on Buffy's arm. Then she
decided to change the subject, "What about Wesley?"
"What about him?"
"Well, what do you think of him?" the redhead wanted to know. The former
watcher had arrived in Sunnydale the night before, to see Buffy and to
confer with Giles about "The Gate".
"He's... okay, I guess," the slayer grinned, "A bit stiff and formal, but he
seems to know a lot of things," she shrugged, "He's a friend of Angel's and
so I guess I can trust him."
"He was a lot worse when he first came. He was only wearing suits and
behaving as if he'd been born hundred years ago. The way he talked," she
shook her head, laughing slightly, "and the way he behaved. You always used
to ignore him."
"I did?" Buffy raised a brow. "Really?"
"Oh yes. I think you were never the average slayer. At least that's what
Giles said. And then after meeting Kendra I was sure he was right."
"Kendra?"
"She was another slayer," Willow explained.
The blond drew her brows together, "But I thought there was only one."
The witch wanted to kick herself, but of course, it was too late now.
"You... uh... kinda died some years ago," she admitted hesitantly.
"I died? Twice?" Buffy shrieked and jumped up from the bed, staring at her
friend.
"Uh... yes. You fought the master, he hypnotized you, and then you were face
under in water. You almost drowned. But Angel and Xander found you and...
Xander revived you with CPR," Willow reported, and then suddenly realized
what she'd done. "But please don't tell Giles. If he finds out I told you
something like that he's going to go stern watcher on me. And I really hate
it when he's nailing me with his eyes," she shivered a little bit.
"Don't worry, I won't tell. So I died and then there were two slayers,"
Buffy was excited to finally find out more about her life and couldn't let
it go now. "And what happened to her?"
"She died," the witch said sadly. "Dr ... a vampire killed her. She was...
different, but... nice. Just... her whole life was concentrated on becoming
a slayer. Her parents had given her in the care of her watcher when she was
very young, a baby. It's sad, don't you think?"
"It sounds sad," the slayer agreed. "And what-"
"No," Willow's refusal cut her off mid sentence. "I won't tell you anymore."
Besides I really don't want to talk about Faith, she thought. "I already
told you more than I was supposed to."
"But I said I wouldn't tell Giles," Buffy protested.
"I know. And I believe you," Willow gave her a smile, "but the shrink said
it too. That you have to remember by yourself, not just being told."
The blonde looked at her friend and then nodded. "I understand. I don't like
it though. Besides, there's so much I can look forward too. Angel will be
back tomorrow."
***
"Do you really think that's wise, man?" Gunn said eying his vampire friend
busting the lock at the back entrance of the apartment complex.
"No, probably not," Angel replied on a sigh. "But it's really the only idea
I've got left. I'm not going to watch her die again," he said firmly,
smiling slightly when the lock gave way. With an inviting gesture of his
hand, he pushed the door open and Gunn stepped inside.
The African American looked around, "Crime pays I'd say," he remarked,
whistling through his teeth. The apartment complex was top class, the hall
completely decorated with marble, they could see a guard standing at the
front door, who fortunately didn't expect any threat from inside, so his
gaze was directed towards the street. "This stinks of money. At least our
friend enjoys life."
"That he does," the vampire agreed and nodded towards the stairs. "Without a
conscience life is simple," he said, knowing exactly what he was talking
about. "Let's go."
Angel led on and Gunn followed him to the second floor where the two entered
the elevator and then left it again at the 15th floor. "He has the apartment
on the corner," the vampire explained.
Gunn nodded, touching his back for the gun he hid there for this special
case. "Let's just hope this will work," he said.
***
"There is absolutely nothing," Wesley exclaimed and threw a thick book on
the table of Giles' apartment. "What the hell did this watcher do? He didn't
write one single word about the events in London." The former watcher ran a
weary hand through his hair and then exhaled a long breath. "Any luck?" he
asked turning to Cordelia who was searching the net on her laptop.
"No, nothing," the brunette replied, not looking up. "I've tried all the
databases and none of them has any information. What about you Willow?" she
addressed the witch who was busy at another computer.
"Nada," she answered and when she saw everyone except Tara staring at her,
she shrugged, "Xander's influence, I guess."
Giles shook his head and then closed his book as well. "I can't believe
nobody ever described it. Each time anyone tried to open the hell mouth it's
reported into detail. I could even find a mention about the events in 1550,
but there is no word about 'The Gate'. We still have no idea when it's going
to happen. We have no idea what exactly going to happen. We don't even know
who might be leading the forces."
Willow looked up from her screen, "Leading the forces?" she asked, not
liking the sound of it. Forces. That was like an army. An army of demons or
vampires. Not something she wanted to face.
"I believe Rupert refers to the leader," Wesley replied. "We have no idea
who might be this leader. It has to be someone with power. Maybe some master
vampire, or an ancient one, or some very powerful demon," he shrugged
helplessly.
"There's something," Cordelia exclaimed suddenly. "Not much," she said
apologetically, "Here it comes. 'In addition to an opening of the hellmouth
there might be powers able to go further. Further meaning the opening of
'The Gate to Hell' or rather the inner, most evil part of the demon
dimension. Whilst the first event merely frees the demons captured in the
more outer dimensions and gives them ability to walk the earth again, the
second would end in the ultimate destruction of Good'."
The brunette looked up, rubbing her forehead with one hand. "Can we say no
thank you? Then there is a mention of prophecies, but we already know that."
She took a deep breath, "I hope Angel calls soon." Then she suddenly
frowned, "Where's Buffy by the way?"
"On patrol, with Spike," Dawn replied.
"Angel knows about that?" the brunette wanted to know.
"Uh-huh," the slayer's sister grinned. "He said if Spike messes this up he's
going to stake him. And it seemed as if Spike believed him. So he plays
watch-dog."
"And he loves to hit," Willow said dryly.
"And that," Dawn agreed laughing aloud.
***
There was a noise inside as if someone was struggling to get out of his bed,
what was probably exactly, what just happened. Then footsteps. Finally a
curse. "Damn Mark, I told him he should ask first," a voice came from the
inside, before the door opened.
The person froze in the door, his eyes widened, but before he could close
the door again, Angel had already pushed it open, sending the man flying
backward. With a smile, the vampire turned and then looked down to the man
who was trying to get up again. "Hi Lindsey," he said pleasantly. "I know
it's rather late, but I'm in urgent need of your service."
... to be continued