Part 36 - Angel's Injury
10 pm

"I'LL KILL YOU, SPIKE!" Buffy yelled, as she knelt next to Angel,
helping him sit up.

"Sleep well, Peaches!" they heard, and then footsteps running off.

"Angel?"

"I'm okay," he gasped. "It hurts but it missed my heart."

"Duh, I could see that since you're not a pile of dust," was Buffy's
attempt at keeping the situation light. "Let's get you home and get
you cleaned up."

Xander went to Angel's other side, as Buffy helped him up, to help
support his weight.

"Xan, you okay?" Buffy asked him, as they walked outside. "I'm fine.
No serious injuries," he replied.

*That's not what I meant.* Buffy thought, but knew that conversation
would have to wait until they were alone.

The ten minute walk to Angel's mansion took thirty, as Angel was not
steady on his feet. Buffy was growing more worried by the moment, it
didn't seem like she was seeing the results of a typical arrow wound.
Besides the burning suspicion that Spike had _meant_ to miss Angel's
heart. He could've dusted him easily. So why didn't he?

She and Xander finally got Angel inside, and deposited him in a chair
in the kitchen,

"You okay?" she asked, him. In the light of the kitchen, he looked
obviously sick. Vampires didn't get sick. She put her hand to his
forehead, it was burning up. Vampires didn't run fevers. "Angel?" she
asked again, as he hadn't replied. She then noticed he was also
sweating. Vampires didn't sweat. She was trying to fight the panic
welling up in her, the sinking feeling that something was very wrong.

"I'm fine," Angel tried to reassure her. "Let's just get this arrow
out, please? The first aid kit's in the bathroom."

Buffy looked at him for a moment. She didn't believe him, but didn't
want to tax his strength by arguing with him. She nodded, and went
out to find the first aid kit as he'd requested.

"You're not fine," Xander said when Buffy was out of hearing range.
He too had noticed all the symptoms Buffy had,

"The arrowhead was poisoned," Angel admitted. "I can feel it, and it
isn't pleasant at all. I'll be fine in a few days, though. Poison
can't kill vampires."

"Yeah, just stakes, holy water, sun and beheading, huh?"

"Exactly. Xander, I haven't done anything lately to make you mad,
have I?" Angel joked.

Xander smiled. "I get that you don't want to worry Buffy, and that's
fine. But she'll figure it out, you know."

"Figure out what?" Buffy asked as she returned with the first aid
kit. "Off with the shirt," she ordered, helping Angel get it off.

"Just that human blood will help me heal faster," Angel said quickly.

Buffy sighed in irritation, but remained quiet. She didn't buy it in
the least, that that's what he'd been hiding from her. She'd long
since gotten over her gross out at what Angel was, and what he needed
to survive. And as for human blood, she had no problem whatsoever in
stopping at the blood bank and bribing away or stealing a few bags
for Angel. Of course human blood would be better than pig to help him
heal.

Angel could sense her irritation, but changed the subject. "Cut the
arrow shaft off, then pull the arrow the rest of the way through."

"Two things for the record," Buffy said. "One: YUK! And two: I don't
need to know HOW you know the proper way to remove an arrow from
someone's body."

Angel smiled weakly, and Buffy added, "Sorry. Jokes wait 'til after
the arrow's out, I get it."

Xander grabbed a pair of scissors, and cut off the shaft of the
arrow, then said, "Okay. Ready to pull?" She grimaced, and nodded,
reaching for the arrowhead.

Angel grabbed her hand quickly. "NO!"

She started, and jumped back. "What the hell is wrong with YOU?!" she
demanded.

"I just..." Angel thought a second, "didn't want you to cut
yourself." He hoped she bought his explanation. He'd panicked a moment earlier
when she'd almost introduced the poison into her own body. If it was
affecting him like this, he didn't want to think what it would do to
her.

"Fine, I'll take it by the stick-part," Buffy shrugged, still eyeing
him suspiciously. "Ready?" He nodded, and grit his teeth. She pulled
it out quickly, and put it on the table.

"It's not bleeding too much anymore," she said as she started to
clean the wound.

"Good, I..." Angel slurred, and swayed.

Buffy grabbed his shoulder, "Angel?"

His eyes were glassy, not seeing her. "I'm through playing these
games with Spike. Insufferable Childe."

Buffy caught him as he passed out.