Part 44 - Fate?

"Angel," Buffy said, and moved to sit next to him. Part of her was
devastated to see him so weakened, wishing his suffering was over by
now. The other part was glad he wasn't dead.

"You're not supposed to be here," Angel gasped. "Go--"

"Hush," she put a finger to his lips, shaking her head. "There's a
reason I was drawn back here, now, while you're still alive. Call it
fate, or whatever you want. But you're not supposed to die. Not
today." She took a deep breath, then put an arm under his shoulders,
pulling him up. "Drink." She said, pulling his head to her neck.

"No," he whispered, and surprised her with his strength as he shoved
away from her, and fell to the ground. All he could hear was her
heartbeat, and he tried to crawl away from her.

Buffy followed him, trying to figure out how to make him drink. She
grabbed his arm, and thought of a way. She had to get to Angelus. If
Angelus was in control, he wouldn't resist her request to drink from
him. She fought back the fear which welled up at that thought,
realizing she'd deal with the devil himself if it would save Angel.

She pulled back her other arm and punched him in the face twice. The
first time, Angel's head snapped back, but he retained control. The
second time, he vamped out, snarling at her. Before he could recover,
she knelt in front of him, pulling his head to her neck again. Her
other hand was on his shoulder, and she said, "Drink."

She cried out as she felt his fangs sink into her neck finally, but
she he fought the urge to panic and fight him off, as she felt him
drinking her blood. She grabbed the fabric of his shirt, holding him
to her. She fell to the ground onto her back, and he followed, still
drinking. It hurt at first, but then as she let go of the desire to
fight, the pain faded and she found a strange sense of calm
resignation. Her blood was healing him, and if she died that day, it
would be worth it.

Angel had no control of what was happening and fought desperately to
regain control. He had felt Angelus take control as Buffy punched him
the second time, and couldn't stop from sinking his fangs into her
neck. He'd heard her cry out in pain, but her grip on him had been
too tight to pull away. The bloodlust was overpowering already and
the first taste of her blood on his tongue had been intoxicating. He
couldn't stop, he realized as a tear slipped down his cheek. He was
too weak, and he couldn't stop himself. He would drain the woman he
loved, killing her. *Somebody stop me, please* he silently wished.

Buffy felt a moment of renewed panic as she felt herself weakening.
Angelus must have sensed it too, as he tightened his grip on her
shoulders, his fangs clamping down harder on her neck. Buffy cried
out in pain, but it trailed off as she drifted away into
unconsciousness.

************************

Xander jerked awake with a start, as he realized that Buffy was gone.
He looked at the clock, it was past ten. *Where is she?* he wondered.
With a sense of dread, he got up, and went out. He felt that he had
to find her, something was terribly wrong.

He checked two cemeteries, then found himself at Angel's
mansion. "Maybe she needed to say goodbye." He wasn't sure whether
or not to disturb her, if that was the case. He heard her yell; that
settled the question, as he rushed inside.

He stopped short at the scene in front of him. Angel was drinking
from Buffy; she was unconscious. "GET OFF HER!" he yelled. He staked
Angel in the shoulder, deliberately choosing not to dust him. The
vampire snarled, looking up at him, but Xander stood his ground. "I
didn't have to miss," he said. "Get the HELL away from her!" He
noticed a significant change in Angel's demeanor, then Angel
retreated across the room quickly.

Xander knelt by Buffy quickly, not giving Angel a second
thought. "Oh, God, Buffy! Please don't be dead!" He fought the urge
to panic, and grabbed her wrist, checking for a pulse. It was there,
but very slow and unsteady. The puncture wounds in her neck were
still bleeding profusely, too. He looked up in surprise as a small
towel was put in his hand.

Angel looked away, unable to meet Xander's eyes. "Take her to the
hospital," Angel whispered. "She's still alive, but just barely."

Xander somehow fought the urge to stake the vampire for what he'd
done and pressed the towel to the wound on Buffy's neck. Then he
gathered her limp body into his arms, and rushed outside.

*************