Title: Fallen Author: LanaraofEarth Rating: PG-13 ish...maybe R later on Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Series are not mine and never will be, no matter how much I might wish otherwise. The characters of both shows belong to Joss Wedon, Fox and other people and companies that I can't remember right at this moment. Summary: After being shunned by the gang in LA, Wesley leaves and ends up in Sunnydale. Possibly Wes and Buffy shippiness

Note: Words etc. in * are a character's inner thoughts/dialogue.

* Part 8 *

The early morning rays of the sun shone brightly through the worn shades of the old motel room, lighting the still form of the man on the bed.

His dishevelled hair stood up at all ends as it rested against the musty pillow, his body sprawled across the double mattress.

His body twitched in the light, fighting consciousness.

Wesley slowly came to with a groan.

His eyes blinked as sleep released its clutch on him and he grimaced in pain as the light of the sun scalded his eyes. His right hand quickly came up to block the rays as the pain of a splitting headache hit him.

He fell back onto the bed as a muttered "bloody hell" escaped his lips on a moan of pain.

That was when a soft, somewhat facetious, yet definitely feminine, voice broke the stillness of the room. "Good morning to you too, Sunshine."

Wesley jerked upright in his bed and then cursed again as the blood rushed to his head and the headache intensified. Hung over and irritated at being disturbed he bit out "What the bloody hell are you doing here."

Buffy smirked at the response, "Charming as always, Mr. Wyndham-Price. I thought that you might need these." With that Buffy held up a cup of coffee in one hand and a bottle of aspirin in the other.

Wesley fell back onto the bed again, what the hell was she doing here?

Wesley had tried to make sure to avoid her at all costs since he had gotten here, not wanting to run into his disapproving protégé and seeing the "I knew it" smirk on her face that would surely result after she learned of his disgrace and failure.

What was she doing here anyway? How did she know that he was here?

"I dragged your sorry British butt back here, that's how I knew you were here." Buffy spoke after seeing the question on his face.

He didn't remember.did he remember any of it?

Looking at him now she had feeling that he didn't.

It hadn't been easy for Buffy to come back this morning, but she had forced herself to. Whether Wesley wanted to admit it or not.he needed someone and although she may not have been the most ideal of candidates.she was going to have to do for the time being.

Wesley slowly drew himself up from the bed until he was standing awkwardly and stumbled over to the bathroom as he replied, "Well that's just fuckin' marvellous then.come to gloat?"

Buffy frowned in confusion at the retreating form of the brit, * Gloat? What is he talking about? *

Buffy sat in silence as she heard the sound of the water running. * He's been doing this for a while. * the thought suddenly occurred to her.

The fact that he hadn't stumbled out of bed and ran to the toilet to empty the contents of his stomach after consuming the amount of alcohol that he had spoke volumes. His body had built up a tolerance to some of the alcohols effects. He'd drinking for far too long.

She still wasn't exactly sure why it was that she was there. * that's not really true now is it? * her nagging inner voice piped in.

Buffy sighed, * Can't you ever just shut up? * * Nope!* the inner voice replied which a tad too much enthusiasm for the slayers liking.

* I have GOT to stop drinking double lattes. *

Although, she had to concede that the pain in the butt inner whatever it is wasn't all wrong. As much as she didn't want to admit to it, she felt an odd kinship with the man currently cleaning up in the bathroom not more then a few feet away.

He was hurting.and so was she.

He felt alone. Ashamed..and so did she.

They were both trying to hide in the darkness.when they belonged in the light, no matter how hard they fought against it.

Buffy shifted her gaze towards the bathroom as the ex-watcher emerged and blinked in surprise when she came face to face with a half naked Wesley Wyndham-Price.

* DAMN!*

Buffy titled her head as she regarded the well-muscled chest before her. * I never knew that watchers could come in this make and model.I should have asked for an exchange long ago! *

Not that she would have traded Giles in for anything, he was her father, in every way that matter.

Suddenly, the unbidden image of Giles shirtless came to mind and Buffy cringed, *EEEWWW, that wasn't nice. *

Buffy focused back on the man in the room as Wesley walked over to the closet and retrieved a black button up shirt.

Unconsciously, Buffy's tongue darted out to lick her lips as his muscles shifted with the movement and her eyes were drawn to the tight behind clad in form fitting jeans.

Suddenly the memory of those jean-clad hips grinding down against hers came to mind and a shiver of pleasure raced down her spine.

Buffy shook herself.. * bad thoughts.bad.bad thoughts.. *

As Buffy had become caught up in her thoughts Wesley had donned the shirt and was attempting, poorly, to do up the buttons.

He raised his eyes and they came to settle on the bottle of aspirin sitting invitingly beside the delicious smelling coffee.

Wesley grit his teeth.he wasn't about to accept anything from his former charge.

With determination he stood straighter and buttoned up the shirt as far as he was able to, which didn't end up being very far.

Buffy was treated to a lovely view of his well-defined pecs as stood up to face her. She smirked at the wilful determination she saw firmly in place in his eyes and on his face.

Fine.he wants to show me that he doesn't need pity and doesn't want the coffee, that's fine with me.he can have the splitting headache all day.won't bother me.

"What is it that you want exactly, Buffy? This isn't the mall.go home. " Wesley finally spoke up glaring down at the smirking young woman, her cocky attitude always had gotten under his skin. He wasn't sure why it was that she was here, but he didn't need her.

Buffy crossed her legs and lounged back in the chair as she regarded the man before her and replied, "Nothin'. Just hangin'. Thought that since the mall was closed I might spend the afternoon with a sour drunk who still, in three years, hasn't managed to retrieve the pole from his ass."

Wesley's eyes narrowed dangerously, anger bubbling in his veins. "You have no idea what has changed in the last three years.obviously nothing has here. You still haven't grown up enough to become more then an irritating, immature, blond."

That one hit home.

Buffy hid the wince at the bard and plastered a fake smile on her face.she'd become an expert at hiding her feelings lately.

Sarcasm lacing her words she bit back, "Ouch, Wes. That hurt.learn that at Watchers school? Very astute of you, you noticed the colour of my hair.now, how about your next lesson teach you how to grow a back bone?"

Buffy didn't know why she was being so harsh on the poor man, she knew that he was hurting.but damnit he just pissed her off with his "I'm British, so there for I am bigger and better than you are, not to mention I have a name so long there had to be a hyphen in it to break it up".

Wesley barked out a laugh at that, "I have more of a backbone then you're tiny little frame could ever conceive of carrying."

Buffys brow raised at the comment, "Now there's the ego the size of Texas that I was looking for.cause it was no where to be seen last night."

Wesley shook his head. The girl just never gave up did she?

He wasn't exactly sure what went on last night other than he got monumentally drunk, because he'd only had one nightmare last night, but he somehow knew that she had tried to be nice to him. Which pissed him off further. She hated him.he wasn't quite so pathetic that he wanted her pity.

"It went for a vacation.had a great time, now its back, so you can just go home to your nice little perfect life now."

Buffy snorted, a decidedly unladylike gesture that caused Wesley's eyes to widen in surprise.

"That was a good one, I like that."

Wesley threw a confused look Buffys way but decided not to respond. Although she had smiled at his remark there was a sadness that had crept in unbidden. A moment later it was gone and the cocky attitude was back, firmly in place.

Whatever it was that she was hiding, he had enough to deal with without her added problems. He knew that he was being selfish but he pushed the guilt away; just one more thing to add to the growing list of regrets and disappointments that made up his life.

Wesley crossed the room and opened the motel room door and waited patiently for Buffy to get the hint.

Buffy remained where she was and just starred at the dishevelled man. He wanted her to leave.well it just wasn't his lucky day.

Wesley sighed in annoyance as he rubbed a tired hand over his face. "Leave, Buffy. I don't want you here."

Buffy's gaze softened as Wesley's shoulders began to sink with the amount of self-loathing he was carrying around with him. "I know that, Wesley."

Wesley met her gaze, but couldn't hold it when he found a soft compassion there. Damnit, why couldn't the girl simply remain irritating so he could at least maintain an excuse for being an ass to her.

"Then use a few of the grey cells I know that you have tucked away in there and go."

Wesley cringed at the harshness of the words, but couldn't take them back now and if they managed to make her leave, then it was almost worth it.

Buffy rose to her feet and walked over to join Wesley at the door. "You're a pain in the ass, Wesley Wyndham-Price."

She got a smile out of him them, albeit a crooked one. "Glad to see you finally noticed."

Buffy grinned back up at him, "Yep.and it's a good thing that it's a semi- cute one, otherwise I would have wiped the floor with it three years ago."

With that comment lingering in the air, Buffy took the door from his hands and closed the door softly behind her.

* End Part 8 *