Rupert ran over to her. "Jenny? Jenny?" Rupert knelt down beside her, and brushing her hair out of her face, he checked her pulse. Wesley joined Rupert beside Jenny.
Meanwhile, Buffy had rushed at Angelus and was kicking and punching him. Deciding to cut his losses for the night, the vampire took off into the darkness. Oz, Xander, Joyce and Buffy went over to were Jenny lay on the ground. "How is she?" Buffy asked Giles who was cradling Jenny's body, her head in his lap.
"She's unconscious. We er, need to get her to the hospital. . ." his voice broke and Buffy noticed tears in his eyes.
"We can take my car," Wesley offered. He also looked extremely upset.
Buffy moved to help Giles carry Jenny. "No," his voice was harsh. Softening it slightly, he added, "I can carry her."
- - -
The waiting seemed endless. Giles paced backwards and forwards outside the room Jenny was in. All of the Scoobies had gathered, and looked on with concern. Occasionally, Joyce or Wesley would try to reassure Giles, but he barely took any notice of them. "So, just what were you doing at my house anyway?" Buffy asked Xander.
"We were worried about your mom. Angelus turned up at Ms. Calendar's, she contacted us to warn us. When she rang your house to warn your mom, he answered."
"So she went around with you guys to protect my mom?" Xander nodded and Buffy raked her hands through her hair. "God! It's my fault she's in there." She motioned to the room Jenny was in.
"No, Buffy, it isn't," Willow said and placed a hand on Buffy's back.
"It is Will. She only went around to mine to save my mom. God! And my mom wasn't there anyway, she'd insisted on coming patrolling with me." She looked over at Giles. His hair was a rumpled mess and he looked on the verge of losing it. "If anything happens to Ms. Calendar. . ."
"It won't," Willow spoke firmly. "She's going to be okay. We're not going to lose her. We can't." Oz put his arm around Willow.
The doctor came out of Jenny's room and Rupert rushed up to him. "How is she?" The others went over to hear what the doctor had to say.
"She's doing okay. She's still unconscious, but she'll be okay. She should wake up soon. I'm happy to say that there's no damage. She's been lucky."
Giles let out a breath of relief. "Can I go in and see her?"
"Yes, but only you."
Rupert entered the room and his heart went out once again to her. She looked she fragile, lay in the hospital bed. He could see the bruise where Angelus had hit her. She also had a cut on her temple where her head had connected with the concrete path. He moved over to her and gently took one of her delicate hands in his. In a hushed voice he told her, "I'm here Jenny, my love." He bent over her and placed a soft kiss on the cheek that wasn't bruised, before sitting down into the chair at the side of her bed, still holding her hand.
Half an hour passed before she opened her eyes. "Rupert?" Her voice was strained.
"Jenny, you're awake." Smiling through his tears, he stood up and perched on the side of her bed. "It's alright love, I'm here. You're going to be alright." He tenderly stroked her hair. "Everything's going to be alright, I promise."
"Angelus?"
"He's not going to hurt you. I won't let him. You just rest. I'm not going anywhere." Standing up, Rupert pressed the button that called the nurse. Within moments, a nurse entered the room. "She's awake."
The nurse smiled. "Good. I'll go and get the doctor."
After the doctor had checked Jenny, and confirmed that she would be alright, the others were allowed in to see her, one by one. Rupert stayed in the room with her the whole time. Buffy was the last to enter the room. "Hi! How you feeling?" she asked timidly.
"A little sore, but I'm alive." Jenny smiled.
"I'm. . .I'm really sorry Ms. Calendar."
The older woman's eyes softened and she held out her hand to Buffy. "You've got nothing to be sorry about Buffy." Buffy placed her hand in hers and Jenny squeezed it in reassurance.
"Thanks." Buffy sniffed. "I just feel responsible though. But I swear to you I haven't slept with him."
"I believe you," Jenny told her.
"Thank you for risking your life to save my mom. You didn't have to do that."
"I couldn't let him hurt you mom. Besides, I told you I'd do everything I could to make up with you Buffy."
"And you have. Really Ms. Calendar, we're more than good." She bent down and hugged Jenny, careful not to hurt her.
"I'm just glad you're mom wasn't there and that she's okay."
"Yeah. Look, I'll leave you two alone now."
"Buffy, be careful. We still don't know why Angel changed," Giles warned her.
"No, but I'm gonna find out." With a determined look on her face, she headed for the door.
"Buffy, please, be careful," Giles called after her. "Don't do anything rash."
"I'll be fine Giles. Can't say the same for Angelus though."
"Buffy don't stake him," Jenny said as Buffy reached the door.
Buffy turned around. "Why not? He tried to kill you?"
"We can recurse him again. Like we did last time," Jenny explained.
"I don't know that I want to." With that, Buffy left the room.
- - -
"Where you going?" Xander asked as he followed Buffy down the hospital corridor.
"To find Angelus."
"Not on your own you're not."
"Xander, stay here, watch Ms. Calendar."
"The others can do that. I'm coming with you."
"No Xander, you're not. This is my fight."
"You see, that's where you're wrong. This is everyone's fight. Angelus just tried to kill Ms. Calendar, again. I'm coming with you."
"Xander don't make me hit you."
"That's your answer to everything isn't it! Buffy, have you ever thought I might need to face Angelus myself. I care about Ms. Calendar. And he did hit me too."
"Yeah, that's my point. I don't want you getting hurt."
"Well, maybe it's time you let me do what I have to!"
"And what's that? Get killed?"
"It's nice to know what you think of me!"
Buffy sighed and indicated with her head for him to come along with her.
- - -
Xander followed Buffy into the Manor. Stood beside the fireplace were Faith and Angelus. "Well, look who's here!" Angelus sneered as he saw Buffy and Xander. "Aw, and you brought the little lapdog too."
"So, this looks cosy," Buffy indicated to Faith.
"Yeah, we're five by five here B."
"So, do you know what he's done to Ms. Calendar?" Xander asked Faith.
Faith looked at Xander. "What do you mean?"
"Angelus here attacked her. Knocked her out. She's in the hospital, in case you're bothered at all," he told her.
Faith's eyes went wide and she turned to Angelus. "You attacked Jenny! You told me you'd leave her alone."
Angelus shrugged. "So? What do you care? She's just another one of them."
"No, she's not. She was the only one who I liked." Faith moved to stand face to face with him. "You shouldn't have done that."
"Why, what are you going to do about it?" he challenged her.
"Well, I guess there's trouble in paradise," Xander quipped.
"Shut up whipping boy," Angelus glared over at him.
"As much as I'm enjoying the discord here as much as Xander, I have some payback to deal out," Buffy spoke as she moved slowly nearer to Angelus and Faith.
Angelus spread his hands in a 'bring it on' gesture. "Show me what you've got lover."
Buffy sneered. "I thought that was Faith?"
Angelus laughed. "Oh that's funny. You think I slept with her?" He doubled over laughing.
Faith's face hardened as she looked at the vampire. Raising her fist, she thumped him in the face. The vampire growled and straightened. "What did you do that for?"
Glaring at him, Faith shook her head in disgust and walked off past Xander and Buffy. At the door she turned and said, "I'm glad I didn't sleep with him. You can keep him B." She let out a nasty laugh. "You're gonna get yours Angel. The stuff should wear off soon and you'll wish B had staked you."
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked. "What stuff?"
"Oh, the Mayor had Angel's blood laced with happy drugs." She laughed. "The effects are only temporary. They were fun though. Caused you guys a whole heap of pain. Sweet thoughts Angel." Faith turned around and left.
Buffy and Angelus looked at each other in shocked silence. "Er, what do we do now?" Xander asked. Buffy strode nearer to Angelus and taking him by surprise, in one swift motion, she knocked him out. "Okay, I like that idea." Xander grinned down at the unconscious vampire.
Buffy chained Angelus up. "I'll stay here with him until the effects wear off. Giles needs to know what's going on. You go back and tell the others."
"You sure you'll be okay on your own?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine."
Nodding, Xander placed his hand lightly on Buffy's shoulder and then departed.
- - -
Two Days Later
Jenny was dressed, sat on the edge of the bed and waiting for Rupert to come and take her home from the hospital, when there was a light tap on the door and Wesley popped his head around. "Wesley, hi?"
"Hello Jenny. How are you feeling?" He moved into the room and stood before her.
"I'm feeling great. Rupert's coming to take me home today."
"Yes, I heard." He hesitated and cleared his throat. "Jenny, that's actually why I'm here."
Alarmed, Jenny said, "Is Rupert okay? He is still coming right?"
"Yes. Yes. Mr. Giles is fine. And as far as I know, he's still coming to collect you."
Jenny looked relieved. "Good. So, what did you want?"
Wesley perched himself beside her. "Jenny, I. . .I care about you greatly and. . ."
Jenny looked at him and held her hand up. "Don't. If you're gonna say what I think you're going to, don't." Wesley looked at her, his brow creased. He started to open his mouth and she cut him off again. "I think you should go now." She stood up.
He stood in front of her. "Jenny, I can take care of you. You can't honestly feel safe with Giles? You're precious and he never keeps you safe. How many times has he put you in danger? He doesn't deserve you."
"That's enough. I love Rupert."
"And I love you."
"No, you don't. And even if you do, I don't love you. I'm sorry. I'm in love with Rupert and I don't want to be with anyone but him."
"Jenny, you deserve better."
"Wesley I think you'd better leave now."
"Jenny?" He reached out to touch her arm and she stepped back.
"I want you to go."
"You heard her!" They both spun around to see Giles in the doorway. He moved forward into the room and stood beside Jenny, putting his arm around her. She leaned into him. "Get out before I put you out."
Wesley took his cue and left the room, his shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry about that Rupert."
He smiled at her. "You've nothing to be sorry about. I heard the majority of the conversation."
"You did?"
"Yes." He lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. "I'm a very lucky man."
"Yeah and don't you go forgetting it," she teased.
"Oh, I won't." They kissed again, longer this time. "Jenny, he does have a point though, I am dangerous to be around."
Jenny reached up and stroked his cheek. With the other hand she wrapped it around his neck and pulled him down to her as she said, "Nobody is safe to be around. You have to enjoy life while you can. And I want to enjoy it with you Rupert." She pressed her lips against his. Releasing him, she smiled up at him.
He returned her smile. "I love you Jenny."
"I know. And I love you too. Now, take me home and give me a little TLC!" She winked at him. Picking her bag up, he took hold of her hand and led her home.
Meanwhile, Buffy had rushed at Angelus and was kicking and punching him. Deciding to cut his losses for the night, the vampire took off into the darkness. Oz, Xander, Joyce and Buffy went over to were Jenny lay on the ground. "How is she?" Buffy asked Giles who was cradling Jenny's body, her head in his lap.
"She's unconscious. We er, need to get her to the hospital. . ." his voice broke and Buffy noticed tears in his eyes.
"We can take my car," Wesley offered. He also looked extremely upset.
Buffy moved to help Giles carry Jenny. "No," his voice was harsh. Softening it slightly, he added, "I can carry her."
- - -
The waiting seemed endless. Giles paced backwards and forwards outside the room Jenny was in. All of the Scoobies had gathered, and looked on with concern. Occasionally, Joyce or Wesley would try to reassure Giles, but he barely took any notice of them. "So, just what were you doing at my house anyway?" Buffy asked Xander.
"We were worried about your mom. Angelus turned up at Ms. Calendar's, she contacted us to warn us. When she rang your house to warn your mom, he answered."
"So she went around with you guys to protect my mom?" Xander nodded and Buffy raked her hands through her hair. "God! It's my fault she's in there." She motioned to the room Jenny was in.
"No, Buffy, it isn't," Willow said and placed a hand on Buffy's back.
"It is Will. She only went around to mine to save my mom. God! And my mom wasn't there anyway, she'd insisted on coming patrolling with me." She looked over at Giles. His hair was a rumpled mess and he looked on the verge of losing it. "If anything happens to Ms. Calendar. . ."
"It won't," Willow spoke firmly. "She's going to be okay. We're not going to lose her. We can't." Oz put his arm around Willow.
The doctor came out of Jenny's room and Rupert rushed up to him. "How is she?" The others went over to hear what the doctor had to say.
"She's doing okay. She's still unconscious, but she'll be okay. She should wake up soon. I'm happy to say that there's no damage. She's been lucky."
Giles let out a breath of relief. "Can I go in and see her?"
"Yes, but only you."
Rupert entered the room and his heart went out once again to her. She looked she fragile, lay in the hospital bed. He could see the bruise where Angelus had hit her. She also had a cut on her temple where her head had connected with the concrete path. He moved over to her and gently took one of her delicate hands in his. In a hushed voice he told her, "I'm here Jenny, my love." He bent over her and placed a soft kiss on the cheek that wasn't bruised, before sitting down into the chair at the side of her bed, still holding her hand.
Half an hour passed before she opened her eyes. "Rupert?" Her voice was strained.
"Jenny, you're awake." Smiling through his tears, he stood up and perched on the side of her bed. "It's alright love, I'm here. You're going to be alright." He tenderly stroked her hair. "Everything's going to be alright, I promise."
"Angelus?"
"He's not going to hurt you. I won't let him. You just rest. I'm not going anywhere." Standing up, Rupert pressed the button that called the nurse. Within moments, a nurse entered the room. "She's awake."
The nurse smiled. "Good. I'll go and get the doctor."
After the doctor had checked Jenny, and confirmed that she would be alright, the others were allowed in to see her, one by one. Rupert stayed in the room with her the whole time. Buffy was the last to enter the room. "Hi! How you feeling?" she asked timidly.
"A little sore, but I'm alive." Jenny smiled.
"I'm. . .I'm really sorry Ms. Calendar."
The older woman's eyes softened and she held out her hand to Buffy. "You've got nothing to be sorry about Buffy." Buffy placed her hand in hers and Jenny squeezed it in reassurance.
"Thanks." Buffy sniffed. "I just feel responsible though. But I swear to you I haven't slept with him."
"I believe you," Jenny told her.
"Thank you for risking your life to save my mom. You didn't have to do that."
"I couldn't let him hurt you mom. Besides, I told you I'd do everything I could to make up with you Buffy."
"And you have. Really Ms. Calendar, we're more than good." She bent down and hugged Jenny, careful not to hurt her.
"I'm just glad you're mom wasn't there and that she's okay."
"Yeah. Look, I'll leave you two alone now."
"Buffy, be careful. We still don't know why Angel changed," Giles warned her.
"No, but I'm gonna find out." With a determined look on her face, she headed for the door.
"Buffy, please, be careful," Giles called after her. "Don't do anything rash."
"I'll be fine Giles. Can't say the same for Angelus though."
"Buffy don't stake him," Jenny said as Buffy reached the door.
Buffy turned around. "Why not? He tried to kill you?"
"We can recurse him again. Like we did last time," Jenny explained.
"I don't know that I want to." With that, Buffy left the room.
- - -
"Where you going?" Xander asked as he followed Buffy down the hospital corridor.
"To find Angelus."
"Not on your own you're not."
"Xander, stay here, watch Ms. Calendar."
"The others can do that. I'm coming with you."
"No Xander, you're not. This is my fight."
"You see, that's where you're wrong. This is everyone's fight. Angelus just tried to kill Ms. Calendar, again. I'm coming with you."
"Xander don't make me hit you."
"That's your answer to everything isn't it! Buffy, have you ever thought I might need to face Angelus myself. I care about Ms. Calendar. And he did hit me too."
"Yeah, that's my point. I don't want you getting hurt."
"Well, maybe it's time you let me do what I have to!"
"And what's that? Get killed?"
"It's nice to know what you think of me!"
Buffy sighed and indicated with her head for him to come along with her.
- - -
Xander followed Buffy into the Manor. Stood beside the fireplace were Faith and Angelus. "Well, look who's here!" Angelus sneered as he saw Buffy and Xander. "Aw, and you brought the little lapdog too."
"So, this looks cosy," Buffy indicated to Faith.
"Yeah, we're five by five here B."
"So, do you know what he's done to Ms. Calendar?" Xander asked Faith.
Faith looked at Xander. "What do you mean?"
"Angelus here attacked her. Knocked her out. She's in the hospital, in case you're bothered at all," he told her.
Faith's eyes went wide and she turned to Angelus. "You attacked Jenny! You told me you'd leave her alone."
Angelus shrugged. "So? What do you care? She's just another one of them."
"No, she's not. She was the only one who I liked." Faith moved to stand face to face with him. "You shouldn't have done that."
"Why, what are you going to do about it?" he challenged her.
"Well, I guess there's trouble in paradise," Xander quipped.
"Shut up whipping boy," Angelus glared over at him.
"As much as I'm enjoying the discord here as much as Xander, I have some payback to deal out," Buffy spoke as she moved slowly nearer to Angelus and Faith.
Angelus spread his hands in a 'bring it on' gesture. "Show me what you've got lover."
Buffy sneered. "I thought that was Faith?"
Angelus laughed. "Oh that's funny. You think I slept with her?" He doubled over laughing.
Faith's face hardened as she looked at the vampire. Raising her fist, she thumped him in the face. The vampire growled and straightened. "What did you do that for?"
Glaring at him, Faith shook her head in disgust and walked off past Xander and Buffy. At the door she turned and said, "I'm glad I didn't sleep with him. You can keep him B." She let out a nasty laugh. "You're gonna get yours Angel. The stuff should wear off soon and you'll wish B had staked you."
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked. "What stuff?"
"Oh, the Mayor had Angel's blood laced with happy drugs." She laughed. "The effects are only temporary. They were fun though. Caused you guys a whole heap of pain. Sweet thoughts Angel." Faith turned around and left.
Buffy and Angelus looked at each other in shocked silence. "Er, what do we do now?" Xander asked. Buffy strode nearer to Angelus and taking him by surprise, in one swift motion, she knocked him out. "Okay, I like that idea." Xander grinned down at the unconscious vampire.
Buffy chained Angelus up. "I'll stay here with him until the effects wear off. Giles needs to know what's going on. You go back and tell the others."
"You sure you'll be okay on your own?"
"Yeah. I'll be fine."
Nodding, Xander placed his hand lightly on Buffy's shoulder and then departed.
- - -
Two Days Later
Jenny was dressed, sat on the edge of the bed and waiting for Rupert to come and take her home from the hospital, when there was a light tap on the door and Wesley popped his head around. "Wesley, hi?"
"Hello Jenny. How are you feeling?" He moved into the room and stood before her.
"I'm feeling great. Rupert's coming to take me home today."
"Yes, I heard." He hesitated and cleared his throat. "Jenny, that's actually why I'm here."
Alarmed, Jenny said, "Is Rupert okay? He is still coming right?"
"Yes. Yes. Mr. Giles is fine. And as far as I know, he's still coming to collect you."
Jenny looked relieved. "Good. So, what did you want?"
Wesley perched himself beside her. "Jenny, I. . .I care about you greatly and. . ."
Jenny looked at him and held her hand up. "Don't. If you're gonna say what I think you're going to, don't." Wesley looked at her, his brow creased. He started to open his mouth and she cut him off again. "I think you should go now." She stood up.
He stood in front of her. "Jenny, I can take care of you. You can't honestly feel safe with Giles? You're precious and he never keeps you safe. How many times has he put you in danger? He doesn't deserve you."
"That's enough. I love Rupert."
"And I love you."
"No, you don't. And even if you do, I don't love you. I'm sorry. I'm in love with Rupert and I don't want to be with anyone but him."
"Jenny, you deserve better."
"Wesley I think you'd better leave now."
"Jenny?" He reached out to touch her arm and she stepped back.
"I want you to go."
"You heard her!" They both spun around to see Giles in the doorway. He moved forward into the room and stood beside Jenny, putting his arm around her. She leaned into him. "Get out before I put you out."
Wesley took his cue and left the room, his shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry about that Rupert."
He smiled at her. "You've nothing to be sorry about. I heard the majority of the conversation."
"You did?"
"Yes." He lowered his head and kissed her on the lips. "I'm a very lucky man."
"Yeah and don't you go forgetting it," she teased.
"Oh, I won't." They kissed again, longer this time. "Jenny, he does have a point though, I am dangerous to be around."
Jenny reached up and stroked his cheek. With the other hand she wrapped it around his neck and pulled him down to her as she said, "Nobody is safe to be around. You have to enjoy life while you can. And I want to enjoy it with you Rupert." She pressed her lips against his. Releasing him, she smiled up at him.
He returned her smile. "I love you Jenny."
"I know. And I love you too. Now, take me home and give me a little TLC!" She winked at him. Picking her bag up, he took hold of her hand and led her home.