CHAPTER 7

"I'll follow you down 'til the sound of my voice will haunt you

You'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you"

-Fleetwood Mac, "Silver Springs"

Angel stepped into his apartment, quickly shutting the door behind him and took off his jacket, throwing it onto the footrest in front of his easy chair. Sitting down, he dropped his head between his hands and sighed. She had seen him. He was sure of it.

He didn't know why he was so upset. He'd watched her before, before all of this happened. She was aware of it, and didn't mind, but this time it was different. Things were different between them. She might not appreciate being followed around by one of her ex's. Especially one that tried to kill her.

There was a knock at the door and he knew it was her. She had come to ask him why he was following her, why he wouldn't talk to her. He didn't know how to tell her it was because he loved her. He loved her more than life itself.

Buffy stood impatiently outside the door and when he didn't open it, yelled out, "Angel!"

Again, he didn't answer, but she knew he could hear her. She sensed him there and it was still early. There was no possible way he could be asleep. Finally, enough was enough, and turned the doorknob with all her might, breaking the lock and stepping inside.

He turned around to look at her, and what she saw horrified her. His normally pale coloring had reddened, and his eyes had done the same. His normally spiky hair was disheveled, and he looked like he hadn't slept in days.

"Angel!" she exclaimed, kneeling down in front of him, her hands gently caressing his face. Her touch felt comforting to him, but he lifted his head away.

"You shouldn't be here, Buffy," he told her. "It's not good for you to be near me."

"Angel, what's wrong? Please tell me," she pleaded with him.

"I'm fine," he declared, standing up.

His body swayed back and forth suddenly, and he wasn't able to regain his balance. Shaking her head, Buffy draped an arm around him and led him over to his bed.

"Sure you are," she murmured, helping him take off his shoes and then get under the covers. "Try to rest, Angel." He looked like he needed it.

Buffy sat down on the edge of his bed and watched as he shut his eyes and tried to follow her orders. "Guess the past few days have been pretty hard for you too, huh?" she asked softly, her fingers playing with the short hair on the back of his neck.

But he had already fallen asleep...