Chapter 10: Two Little Indians...
Eons passed… worlds spun and whirled… Time was motionless… It stood still – it passed through a thousand ages… no, it was only a minute or so… Two standing looking down at the dead woman… Slowly, very slowly, Buffy and Angel lifted their heads and looked into each other's eyes….
Angel laughed. "So, that's it, isn't it, Buffy?"
"You," she breathed.
"I can't believe it…" he said.
"There's no one on the island…no one at all, except us two…"
"Exactly. So now we know, don't we?"
"How do you do that? You know… the trick with the bear clock?" Buffy asked, circling about him slowly.
"Oh, you'd love for me to confess to that, wouldn't you?" he added, chuckling, circling with her. Then he grew serious and said, "This is the end, you know. We've come to the truth and it's the end."
"Oh, I know…" she said. "I just can't believe I let you fool me for so long," she added, pulling the stake out.
"Slayer until the end," he said, then started to laugh like a maniac at the absurdity of it all.
Buffy heard him laugh and went into automatic pilot. She had no Slayer strength but her training served her well as she kicked him in the face.
As her boot met his jaw, he vamped out, rising and punching her in the stomach. Buffy recoiled, but with the lack of vampiric strength, she recovered quickly.
She remembered the stake in her hand and she used it well, kicking him in the thigh, then pushing him to the tree, slamming the stake into him.
Angel gasped in pain, then said, "You missed."
"I don't miss," breathed out Buffy.
At Angel's look of confusion, she looked at the sky and said, "Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun; one got all frizzled up then there was one. Thought you might want to stick to your poem…"
Angel couldn't smell it, but he saw the sky change colors and knew the sun was on its way. Panic filled him.
"Buffy, please don't do this… I know about the evil… I've felt it… We'll work through it… I promise."
"Stop lying! I know you killed them, Angel! Or should I say Angelus? But I'll be damned if a vampire gets the best of a Slayer!"
"Buffy, I didn't do it! I swear! I loved her! I love you!"
Buffy looked into Angel's eyes and saw a combination of fear and love. She felt the sky brightened and knew the sunrise was close.
"Close your eyes," she said, a reminiscent memory of the last time they were in this situation floating in her head. She thrust the stake in closer, pinning him to the tree. "And this time, stay there," she whispered, mutinously.
She saw the shock in his eyes over her words as the first rays hit them both, setting Angel on fire. She watched passively as he disintegrated before her eyes, leaving the tree scorched.
She walked over tiredly to Angel's love and looked at her. Peaceful Cordelia was in death. She pulled Cordelia up to the shore, out of the water, out of the tide's reach and walked into the house.