Angel said good-bye to Jenny and began cleaning up the mess from
dinner. As the clock chimed 10 p.m., Angel remembered that he still hadn't
heard from Buffy. *It's not like her to go this long without calling me.*
Angel was worried that she might have run into trouble. Finally, he broke
down and decided to call her at home. He didn't care if her mother was
angry. He needed reassurance that she was okay.
"Hello."
"Hi, can I speak to Buffy please?"
"I'm sorry, she's not here."
Before Angel had an opportunity to ask anything else, Mrs. Summers hung up. Angel tried to reason that maybe Buffy was just at the Bronze or hanging out with her friends. However, his gut told him differently. He picked up the phone and called Giles, hoping the watcher would have some clue as to Buffy's whereabouts.
"Hello." Giles answered the phone. His voice still retained a heavy English accent.
"Giles, its Angel. I'm sorry to call you so late, but I was wondering if you've seen Buffy today?"
"Oh, Angel, yes, hello. Ms. Calender explained you were feeling better. Uh, no. I haven't seen Buffy today. I had hoped that she would stop by the library and we could discuss a few of the differences and similarities of the two dimensions, but she never arrived. I believe Willow said she didn't come into school. I spoke to the attendance office and her father called her in sick."
Angel was confused. "That doesn't make any sense. If she's sick, why did her mother say she wasn't home? Why hasn't she called me?" Angel's concern now escalated to pure fear. Something wasn't right. His bond with Buffy was weaker today than yesterday. He had long ago learned to follow his instincts too. Right now, his gut told screamed trouble. "Giles, something is wrong. I know it is. I can feel it. Besides, she would have called me and she would have found a way to speak to you today if it was something as simple as not feeling well."
Giles contemplated for a moment. This Buffy was so different that the one he was used to. She still had that air of confidence around her. Quickly he realized that the old Buffy would have checked in with him, not matter what the circumstances. Also, Giles saw the devotion in Buffy's eyes as she cared for Angel. She wouldn't have let so much time pass without contacting him. "You're right. This does seem worthy of asking a few questions, maybe checking a few locations. Let me call Willow first and make sure she hasn't heard from Buffy." Thirty minutes later, Giles arrived at Angel's and together they headed out in search of their slayer.
Giles thought they should stop by the Summer's residence first and see if Buffy had returned home. Although it was almost 11 p.m., lights were still on throughout the house. Angel stood on the front porch and rang the doorbell.
Joyce had been watching some television and relaxing. Hank was still out, probably at a bar somewhere. He still refused to allow her to see Buffy. She had watched him bring some food and water to her once, but nothing else. Her thoughts were halted by the doorbell and Joyce was surprised to see two men standing on her porch at such an hour. Cautiously she opened the front door, but kept the screen door closed and locked. "Can I help you?"
"Mrs. Summers, do you remember me? I'm Rupert Giles. I work at the high school. This is Angel, a friend of Buffy's."
"Yes, of course. What can I do for you?"
Angel responded quickly. "We need to speak with Buffy. I know it's late, but it's extremely important that I talk to her." Angel was nervous. His feelings of concern had only grown as they neared the home. Through the bond, Angel knew Buffy was inside, but something was wrong. His soul screamed for him to find her immediately.
"I'm sorry, but that's not possible. She has been forbidden to see anyone."
"What do you mean forbidden?" Giles was curious to say the least. Unfortunately, Angel didn't allow Joyce to respond.
"I know she's here. I'm not leaving until we see that she's alright and we speak to her." Angel's voice conveyed more threats than his words.
"I'm sorry, but."
Angel didn't allow her to finish. He had to find Buffy now. He opened the door and pushed passed Joyce. He told Giles to check the main floor and basement. As he climbed the stairs, he called out her name and prayed that she would respond, but nothing came. As he reached her room, he found the door locked. Sensing Buffy inside, he used his shoulder to break through the lock. He was never prepared for the sight before him. In complete shock, he moved closer.
Buffy lay curled up on the floor. Her body was bruised and severely beaten. Angel could see blood everywhere. Running to her side, he called for Giles. "Giles, get up here now!"
Giles heard Angel's estranged yell and quickly bounded up the stairs with Joyce following closely behind. He stopped suddenly in his tracks as he saw Angel bend over the crippled form of his slayer. "Dear lord."
"Call 911! She's hardly breathing. Her pulse feels like its getting weaker. GO!" He watched Giles run back out of the room before returning his full attention to Buffy. Her body was in a weird position and he figured that moving her would only cause her more harm. He brushed some hair, now matted with her own blood, from her face and called her. "Buffy, honey, its Angel. Buffy, I need you to open your eyes. Come on Buffy. I need you to know you can hear me. Squeeze my hand." Angel desperately tried to get a response, but felt nothing from his beloved's battered form. "Where is all the blood from?!"
Giles reentered the room and stood in horror. He than turned and demanded answers from Joyce. "Who did this to her? Why didn't you take her to the hospital?"
Joyce stood still, afraid to accept the devastating reality before her. Her own husband had beaten their only daughter within an inch of her life. Quietly she responded to Giles request. "Hank."
Giles' outrage increased ten fold. How could a father hurt his child? Dismissing the thought, he turned his focus on getting Buffy medical attention. "Go downstairs and wait for the ambulance. Send them up with a stretcher." Five minutes later, Giles and Angel followed the ambulance to the hospital, quietly saying prayers for their bloody and broken slayer.
Angel paced inside the hospital waiting room. He couldn't remember ever being so scared before. *How did this happen? Why Buffy? Why didn't she fight back?* He felt guilty as the last thought crossed his mind. His rational side knew it was only Hank's fault, but he just couldn't understand. Angel stopped dead in his tracks as the doctor entered the waiting room. "How is she?"
"Her injuries were quite severe. She had a few broken ribs, one of which had punctured her lung, along with bruises, cuts, and abrasions. However, nothing that shouldn't heal physically with time. Mentally, she may never be the same."
"What do you mean?"
"Most rape and abuse victims suffer long terms affects and consequences. The sooner she begins counseling, the better?"
"Rape! She was raped?"
"I'm sorry. I thought you knew. It appears after she was beaten, he sexually assaulted her. She did wake up briefly, but was in shock and unable to respond. We've repaired the lung and have her something for the pain. She was also given something to prevent pregnancy. Right now, she's resting as comfortably as possible."
Angel could no longer stand and collapsed into a nearby chair. He prayed this was all an extravagant nightmare, but his senses told him differently. "Oh god, oh god. This can't be happening."
Giles too had collapsed into a chair. Upon hearing Angel's reaction, he pushed aside all of his feelings and clung to rational thoughts. "Angel, look at me. We have to keep calm to help Buffy. Anything we're feeling is nothing compared to what she is feeling. She'll need our love and support now more than ever before. We need to remain strong for her."
Angel shook his head in disbelief before allowing Giles' words to sink in. He had to keep himself under control. "Will she be okay?"
"She should be fine with treatment and your support. I've already spoken with the police. They will need a statement, but I've asked them to wait a few days. We need to see how quickly she'll wake and if the shock has wore off. In the mean time, would you like to see her?" The doctor knew the two men weren't family, but their concern for her and the fact that they had brought her in made him disregard the rules. "You can sit with her for a while. I have some rounds to make. If you need anything, have the nurses page me." Doctor Ross left the men at the door to Buffy's room.
Giles watched Angel stare at the door, but make no attempt to open it. He nudged Angel's back gently. "Come on. She's going to need all our love and support now. I'm as angry and upset as you are, but Buffy comes first right now."
"Okay." Angel knew Giles was right. Even though he had found her unconscious in her room, the sight of her lying in a hospital bed looking small and fragile broke his heart. How could anyone hurt his beloved like this? How could a parent cause their child so much pain? Angel walked over to her bed and gently caressed her face. If anything, her bruises had become more prominent instead of fading. "Giles, why hasn't her healing kicked in? Some of these bruises should have been healed by now."
Giles had been thinking the same thing. Her bruises had grown worse. Even with a punctured lung, the slayer healing should have had her awake and semi-mobile. "I'm not sure. I'll contact the council and do some research. In the mean time, I'm going to speak with the police. I want to make sure that Hank Summers is not allowed any where near her. Hopefully they put him in jail already. Stay with her. I'll return shortly." Giles left, allowing Angel some privacy.
Angel found a chair across the small room and pulled it next to her bed. He held her hand, careful not to disturb the IV. There were ugly, purple bruises surrounding both her wrists. *If she tried to fight him, why did this happen? She should have been able to defeat him easily.* "Oh baby, I'm so sorry. I knew something was wrong. I should have been there." His feelings of guilt had increased while waiting to hear about her condition. "Beloved, I need you to get better. You have to wake up and get better. We can finally have everything we've dreamed of. I can give you all the things in life that you deserve. You just have to get better. I need you. I can't do this alone." Angel rested his head on the bed, his large hands gripping her smaller one.
Giles was beyond outraged. How could the council betray their own slayer? How was he going to tell Angel? He couldn't believe that the organization he dedicated his life to defending and preserving would purposely put the slayer in such danger. Again he shook his head and rubbed his temples. His years as a watcher had trained him for many things, but not for this. He quietly walked into the hospital room. At first glance, he thought Angel was sleeping, but a longer look told him differently. The ex-vampire was quietly saying prayers in Latin. Although Giles had only known him a few days, he was beginning to like and trust him immensely. He waited patiently for Angel to finish reciting his prayer. "Angel."
"Amen." Angel opened his eyes and turned to see Giles. "Giles, she hasn't even moved yet."
"That's probably for the best. It would only cause her more pain. She needs the rest to regain her strength." Giles paused for a moment, unsure how to explain the council's betrayal. "I have some news and you're not going to like it."
Angel was extremely worried. He had remained at Buffy's side while Giles made a few inquiries. While Giles was gone, a nurse had stopped in and told him there was no change. *What if it's Hank?* "What?! Tell me Giles!"
"Well, the reason she's not healing is because of a drug in her system. In a few days, she'll regain her accelerated healing again. In a week or so, she should be fully healed."
"How can that be? There is only one drug that can do that and Buffy's not 18 yet. She's still has time before the test."
"You know about that?" Giles was shocked at Angel's knowledge of the barbaric ritual. "Never mind. I spoke with the council. It seems that after the hellmouth was closed, Hank petitioned the council, claiming Buffy was uncontrollable. Due to her unique style, the council complied providing Hank with the drug. He must have been using it on her recently. They only provided him with a small supply. Those idiots! Didn't they realize what could happen?!"
Angel was quiet for a moment. To an observer, it looked like he was thinking. However, Angel was attempting to regain some semblance of control before speaking again. He knew Giles had been unaware and not involved. He didn't want to release his temper on an innocent man. "Giles, I want you to call the council back. Let them know that Buffy no longer takes orders from them. If they ever come near her or even try to contact her, tell Travers I will declare war on them all."" With that, Angel turned his attention back to the pale body hidden beneath the sheets.
Giles retreated from the room. There was nothing he could do for her, except for one thing. Giles would guarantee that Hank Summers never lay a hand on his daughter again.
Angel was woken from his light sleep. He looked around the room expecting to see one of the many nurses milling around and checking Buffy's vitals. However, he didn't see anyone. He was trying to image what could have woken him when he was pulled from his revere. He could feel the increasing pressure on his hand. "Buffy, can you hear me?" Angel waited expectantly, hoping she would finally wake up for a few moments. "Beloved, wake up. Open you eyes for me."
"Angel." Her voice was barely above a whisper. Her whole body hurt. Her mind was foggy and disorientated.
Angel saw her trying to move and gently stopped her, being careful not to hit the many bruises cascading down her arms. "Hey, you need to stay still, okay? You've been badly hurt. You're in the hospital."
Buffy was trying to remember why she was hurt when the memories hit her full force. Her father, her own father had caused this. She didn't understand why or how. All she knew was she needed to get some where safe. "I have to go."
Angel watched in horror as the emotions crossed her face. He knew she remembered. As he reached out to touch her face, he saw her flinch away. "Hey, you're okay. No one is going to hurt you. I promise. As soon as the doctor gives you the okay, I'll take you home." His last statement seemed to scare her even more. "Buffy, I know what happened. I'm not going to make you go back there. I'm going to take you home with me. Is that okay?"
Buffy couldn't respond. Ashamed, she turned her head away from Angel. She could feel the tears flowing down her face. How could Angel even look at her after what happened? How could he stand to be in the same room with her?
As if reading her mind, he reached out and brought her face back to his. "It wasn't your fault." He tried to reassure her that her fears were unfounded. "Buffy, I love you more than anything. Nothing is ever going to chance that. I love you. I want to help you through this. None of this was your fault. You are not to blame."
"I couldn't stop him." She choked out the words between sobs. With each breath, the pain in her lungs increased. She tried to move her hand to clench her side, but her arm was in a cast.
Angel saw her anguish and pain. He quickly hit the call button, signally for a nurse. "Take it easy. You had a punctured lung. They've repaired it, but it will take some time to heal."
The tears continued to flow. "I tried , but I couldn't."
"Shush, it's going to be okay. It's not your fault." Angel tried to console her. Between the physical pain and emotional, he feared for her. Hoping the nurses could help with the physical pain, he pressed the call button and asked for more pain medication. He watched as a doctor entered and tried to speak with Buffy. However, she wanted no part of the man. Angel had to physically hold her down for the doctor to give her a shot. "Buffy, look at me. It's just some pain medication. No one is going to hurt you here. I promise."
"Don't leave me."
"Never, baby, never. Go to sleep. I'll be here when you open your eyes. I'll keep you safe."
TBC…
Feed back Please!!!!!!!!
"Hello."
"Hi, can I speak to Buffy please?"
"I'm sorry, she's not here."
Before Angel had an opportunity to ask anything else, Mrs. Summers hung up. Angel tried to reason that maybe Buffy was just at the Bronze or hanging out with her friends. However, his gut told him differently. He picked up the phone and called Giles, hoping the watcher would have some clue as to Buffy's whereabouts.
"Hello." Giles answered the phone. His voice still retained a heavy English accent.
"Giles, its Angel. I'm sorry to call you so late, but I was wondering if you've seen Buffy today?"
"Oh, Angel, yes, hello. Ms. Calender explained you were feeling better. Uh, no. I haven't seen Buffy today. I had hoped that she would stop by the library and we could discuss a few of the differences and similarities of the two dimensions, but she never arrived. I believe Willow said she didn't come into school. I spoke to the attendance office and her father called her in sick."
Angel was confused. "That doesn't make any sense. If she's sick, why did her mother say she wasn't home? Why hasn't she called me?" Angel's concern now escalated to pure fear. Something wasn't right. His bond with Buffy was weaker today than yesterday. He had long ago learned to follow his instincts too. Right now, his gut told screamed trouble. "Giles, something is wrong. I know it is. I can feel it. Besides, she would have called me and she would have found a way to speak to you today if it was something as simple as not feeling well."
Giles contemplated for a moment. This Buffy was so different that the one he was used to. She still had that air of confidence around her. Quickly he realized that the old Buffy would have checked in with him, not matter what the circumstances. Also, Giles saw the devotion in Buffy's eyes as she cared for Angel. She wouldn't have let so much time pass without contacting him. "You're right. This does seem worthy of asking a few questions, maybe checking a few locations. Let me call Willow first and make sure she hasn't heard from Buffy." Thirty minutes later, Giles arrived at Angel's and together they headed out in search of their slayer.
Giles thought they should stop by the Summer's residence first and see if Buffy had returned home. Although it was almost 11 p.m., lights were still on throughout the house. Angel stood on the front porch and rang the doorbell.
Joyce had been watching some television and relaxing. Hank was still out, probably at a bar somewhere. He still refused to allow her to see Buffy. She had watched him bring some food and water to her once, but nothing else. Her thoughts were halted by the doorbell and Joyce was surprised to see two men standing on her porch at such an hour. Cautiously she opened the front door, but kept the screen door closed and locked. "Can I help you?"
"Mrs. Summers, do you remember me? I'm Rupert Giles. I work at the high school. This is Angel, a friend of Buffy's."
"Yes, of course. What can I do for you?"
Angel responded quickly. "We need to speak with Buffy. I know it's late, but it's extremely important that I talk to her." Angel was nervous. His feelings of concern had only grown as they neared the home. Through the bond, Angel knew Buffy was inside, but something was wrong. His soul screamed for him to find her immediately.
"I'm sorry, but that's not possible. She has been forbidden to see anyone."
"What do you mean forbidden?" Giles was curious to say the least. Unfortunately, Angel didn't allow Joyce to respond.
"I know she's here. I'm not leaving until we see that she's alright and we speak to her." Angel's voice conveyed more threats than his words.
"I'm sorry, but."
Angel didn't allow her to finish. He had to find Buffy now. He opened the door and pushed passed Joyce. He told Giles to check the main floor and basement. As he climbed the stairs, he called out her name and prayed that she would respond, but nothing came. As he reached her room, he found the door locked. Sensing Buffy inside, he used his shoulder to break through the lock. He was never prepared for the sight before him. In complete shock, he moved closer.
Buffy lay curled up on the floor. Her body was bruised and severely beaten. Angel could see blood everywhere. Running to her side, he called for Giles. "Giles, get up here now!"
Giles heard Angel's estranged yell and quickly bounded up the stairs with Joyce following closely behind. He stopped suddenly in his tracks as he saw Angel bend over the crippled form of his slayer. "Dear lord."
"Call 911! She's hardly breathing. Her pulse feels like its getting weaker. GO!" He watched Giles run back out of the room before returning his full attention to Buffy. Her body was in a weird position and he figured that moving her would only cause her more harm. He brushed some hair, now matted with her own blood, from her face and called her. "Buffy, honey, its Angel. Buffy, I need you to open your eyes. Come on Buffy. I need you to know you can hear me. Squeeze my hand." Angel desperately tried to get a response, but felt nothing from his beloved's battered form. "Where is all the blood from?!"
Giles reentered the room and stood in horror. He than turned and demanded answers from Joyce. "Who did this to her? Why didn't you take her to the hospital?"
Joyce stood still, afraid to accept the devastating reality before her. Her own husband had beaten their only daughter within an inch of her life. Quietly she responded to Giles request. "Hank."
Giles' outrage increased ten fold. How could a father hurt his child? Dismissing the thought, he turned his focus on getting Buffy medical attention. "Go downstairs and wait for the ambulance. Send them up with a stretcher." Five minutes later, Giles and Angel followed the ambulance to the hospital, quietly saying prayers for their bloody and broken slayer.
Angel paced inside the hospital waiting room. He couldn't remember ever being so scared before. *How did this happen? Why Buffy? Why didn't she fight back?* He felt guilty as the last thought crossed his mind. His rational side knew it was only Hank's fault, but he just couldn't understand. Angel stopped dead in his tracks as the doctor entered the waiting room. "How is she?"
"Her injuries were quite severe. She had a few broken ribs, one of which had punctured her lung, along with bruises, cuts, and abrasions. However, nothing that shouldn't heal physically with time. Mentally, she may never be the same."
"What do you mean?"
"Most rape and abuse victims suffer long terms affects and consequences. The sooner she begins counseling, the better?"
"Rape! She was raped?"
"I'm sorry. I thought you knew. It appears after she was beaten, he sexually assaulted her. She did wake up briefly, but was in shock and unable to respond. We've repaired the lung and have her something for the pain. She was also given something to prevent pregnancy. Right now, she's resting as comfortably as possible."
Angel could no longer stand and collapsed into a nearby chair. He prayed this was all an extravagant nightmare, but his senses told him differently. "Oh god, oh god. This can't be happening."
Giles too had collapsed into a chair. Upon hearing Angel's reaction, he pushed aside all of his feelings and clung to rational thoughts. "Angel, look at me. We have to keep calm to help Buffy. Anything we're feeling is nothing compared to what she is feeling. She'll need our love and support now more than ever before. We need to remain strong for her."
Angel shook his head in disbelief before allowing Giles' words to sink in. He had to keep himself under control. "Will she be okay?"
"She should be fine with treatment and your support. I've already spoken with the police. They will need a statement, but I've asked them to wait a few days. We need to see how quickly she'll wake and if the shock has wore off. In the mean time, would you like to see her?" The doctor knew the two men weren't family, but their concern for her and the fact that they had brought her in made him disregard the rules. "You can sit with her for a while. I have some rounds to make. If you need anything, have the nurses page me." Doctor Ross left the men at the door to Buffy's room.
Giles watched Angel stare at the door, but make no attempt to open it. He nudged Angel's back gently. "Come on. She's going to need all our love and support now. I'm as angry and upset as you are, but Buffy comes first right now."
"Okay." Angel knew Giles was right. Even though he had found her unconscious in her room, the sight of her lying in a hospital bed looking small and fragile broke his heart. How could anyone hurt his beloved like this? How could a parent cause their child so much pain? Angel walked over to her bed and gently caressed her face. If anything, her bruises had become more prominent instead of fading. "Giles, why hasn't her healing kicked in? Some of these bruises should have been healed by now."
Giles had been thinking the same thing. Her bruises had grown worse. Even with a punctured lung, the slayer healing should have had her awake and semi-mobile. "I'm not sure. I'll contact the council and do some research. In the mean time, I'm going to speak with the police. I want to make sure that Hank Summers is not allowed any where near her. Hopefully they put him in jail already. Stay with her. I'll return shortly." Giles left, allowing Angel some privacy.
Angel found a chair across the small room and pulled it next to her bed. He held her hand, careful not to disturb the IV. There were ugly, purple bruises surrounding both her wrists. *If she tried to fight him, why did this happen? She should have been able to defeat him easily.* "Oh baby, I'm so sorry. I knew something was wrong. I should have been there." His feelings of guilt had increased while waiting to hear about her condition. "Beloved, I need you to get better. You have to wake up and get better. We can finally have everything we've dreamed of. I can give you all the things in life that you deserve. You just have to get better. I need you. I can't do this alone." Angel rested his head on the bed, his large hands gripping her smaller one.
Giles was beyond outraged. How could the council betray their own slayer? How was he going to tell Angel? He couldn't believe that the organization he dedicated his life to defending and preserving would purposely put the slayer in such danger. Again he shook his head and rubbed his temples. His years as a watcher had trained him for many things, but not for this. He quietly walked into the hospital room. At first glance, he thought Angel was sleeping, but a longer look told him differently. The ex-vampire was quietly saying prayers in Latin. Although Giles had only known him a few days, he was beginning to like and trust him immensely. He waited patiently for Angel to finish reciting his prayer. "Angel."
"Amen." Angel opened his eyes and turned to see Giles. "Giles, she hasn't even moved yet."
"That's probably for the best. It would only cause her more pain. She needs the rest to regain her strength." Giles paused for a moment, unsure how to explain the council's betrayal. "I have some news and you're not going to like it."
Angel was extremely worried. He had remained at Buffy's side while Giles made a few inquiries. While Giles was gone, a nurse had stopped in and told him there was no change. *What if it's Hank?* "What?! Tell me Giles!"
"Well, the reason she's not healing is because of a drug in her system. In a few days, she'll regain her accelerated healing again. In a week or so, she should be fully healed."
"How can that be? There is only one drug that can do that and Buffy's not 18 yet. She's still has time before the test."
"You know about that?" Giles was shocked at Angel's knowledge of the barbaric ritual. "Never mind. I spoke with the council. It seems that after the hellmouth was closed, Hank petitioned the council, claiming Buffy was uncontrollable. Due to her unique style, the council complied providing Hank with the drug. He must have been using it on her recently. They only provided him with a small supply. Those idiots! Didn't they realize what could happen?!"
Angel was quiet for a moment. To an observer, it looked like he was thinking. However, Angel was attempting to regain some semblance of control before speaking again. He knew Giles had been unaware and not involved. He didn't want to release his temper on an innocent man. "Giles, I want you to call the council back. Let them know that Buffy no longer takes orders from them. If they ever come near her or even try to contact her, tell Travers I will declare war on them all."" With that, Angel turned his attention back to the pale body hidden beneath the sheets.
Giles retreated from the room. There was nothing he could do for her, except for one thing. Giles would guarantee that Hank Summers never lay a hand on his daughter again.
Angel was woken from his light sleep. He looked around the room expecting to see one of the many nurses milling around and checking Buffy's vitals. However, he didn't see anyone. He was trying to image what could have woken him when he was pulled from his revere. He could feel the increasing pressure on his hand. "Buffy, can you hear me?" Angel waited expectantly, hoping she would finally wake up for a few moments. "Beloved, wake up. Open you eyes for me."
"Angel." Her voice was barely above a whisper. Her whole body hurt. Her mind was foggy and disorientated.
Angel saw her trying to move and gently stopped her, being careful not to hit the many bruises cascading down her arms. "Hey, you need to stay still, okay? You've been badly hurt. You're in the hospital."
Buffy was trying to remember why she was hurt when the memories hit her full force. Her father, her own father had caused this. She didn't understand why or how. All she knew was she needed to get some where safe. "I have to go."
Angel watched in horror as the emotions crossed her face. He knew she remembered. As he reached out to touch her face, he saw her flinch away. "Hey, you're okay. No one is going to hurt you. I promise. As soon as the doctor gives you the okay, I'll take you home." His last statement seemed to scare her even more. "Buffy, I know what happened. I'm not going to make you go back there. I'm going to take you home with me. Is that okay?"
Buffy couldn't respond. Ashamed, she turned her head away from Angel. She could feel the tears flowing down her face. How could Angel even look at her after what happened? How could he stand to be in the same room with her?
As if reading her mind, he reached out and brought her face back to his. "It wasn't your fault." He tried to reassure her that her fears were unfounded. "Buffy, I love you more than anything. Nothing is ever going to chance that. I love you. I want to help you through this. None of this was your fault. You are not to blame."
"I couldn't stop him." She choked out the words between sobs. With each breath, the pain in her lungs increased. She tried to move her hand to clench her side, but her arm was in a cast.
Angel saw her anguish and pain. He quickly hit the call button, signally for a nurse. "Take it easy. You had a punctured lung. They've repaired it, but it will take some time to heal."
The tears continued to flow. "I tried , but I couldn't."
"Shush, it's going to be okay. It's not your fault." Angel tried to console her. Between the physical pain and emotional, he feared for her. Hoping the nurses could help with the physical pain, he pressed the call button and asked for more pain medication. He watched as a doctor entered and tried to speak with Buffy. However, she wanted no part of the man. Angel had to physically hold her down for the doctor to give her a shot. "Buffy, look at me. It's just some pain medication. No one is going to hurt you here. I promise."
"Don't leave me."
"Never, baby, never. Go to sleep. I'll be here when you open your eyes. I'll keep you safe."
TBC…
Feed back Please!!!!!!!!