Chap 8

A noise sounded behind him. Instantly he broke the kiss, the both of us breathing heavily.

"What was that?" I ask between breaths.

"I don't know." His hands loosen at my sides and once more I can feel the pain.

Another noise.

This time he leaves my side and cautiously steps into the living room. I stay where I am as now the pain is back and I fear to move another step.

"Hello" A voice sneered, defiantly wasn't Angel.

"Hi." Came the calm reply.

"So this is where you've been hiding vampire" I know that voice.

"I wasn't hiding." Angel growls a reply.

"Sure looks like you were to me." Shit that's Riley. If he knows I'm here I'm am so so dead!!

I turn and make a run for the back door. Well when I say run I mean more of a fast limp. Give me a false leg and I'd probably move faster.

I reach the door and turn the handle quietly, praying that no one has heard me so I can escape without being noticed. I hear a roar behind me that tells me a battle has started in the living room. Please don't kill him, please.

So I swing the door open and I'm free. I take one last look at the mansion before turning -

Right into a man's chest.

"Ow" I grumble, grabbing at my side once more.

"Buffy?" O crap.

"Graham, how you doing?" I really need to leave, like right this moment.

"What are you doing here? Oh my god he hurt you didn't he? You shouldn't have come alone to fight this vampire, he's strong."

"Tell me about it." I mutter under my breath as I imagine his muscles tensing under my touch.

"Let's get you to a hospital." He puts his arm around my back and takes my hand in an effort to help me walk.

Quickly I wriggle at of his grip. "No, uh, no I'm fine, I'll go see Giles, I'm sure he'll help me. Uh speak to you soon, bye" Phew! I turn my back on Graham and make a hasty r-limp for freedom.

******

"Giles!" I swing the door open and make my way to the sofa.

"Yes?" Is that all he drinks? Is tea the only thing that people drink in England?

"Ow!" I make a point of my injury. What harm is there in getting some TLC.

"Oh right, yes uh, be right with you." Stuttering watcher is now glass less.

Ah Watchers. Such helpful beings in your time of need. There is something that they ought to be taught though. GENTLENESS!!

Roughly he applies more antiseptic cream to the wound. "Giles, you know there's a deep gash there that hurts when touched right?" Maybe I was too used to Angel's gentle, angelic touch. *Sigh*

"Buffy it's hardly a scratch and as for your ribs they are healing particularly well, you friend must have taken good care of you." Oh no, here comes the question I really don't want to hear.

"Who is this acquaintance?"

A vampire. A very noble, loving, caring vampire. You'll like him Giles; really, he's sweet and innocent and promises not to rip any more throats out. Can you see him accepting this? More like, glasses removed and wiped in shirt, sweating appearing on brow and the colour starting to build in the face until we reach boiling point and he explodes. Literally.

So instead I answer with. "Oh just an old old friend." Well he is old!

Now I receive the 'what aren't you telling me' look. And I answer with 'I'm not lying Giles, I never lie to you' look which obviously involves the puppy dog eyes.

I have this guy wrapped round my little finger.

"Right, well, your done just go easy the next few days and I'm sure you will heal in no time at all." He smiles.

"Oki dokie" I smile back.

"Do you want some tea?" Now I really think we are boarding on a tea obsessive here. "Ok."

******

So I'm lying in bed thinking about Angel. What's the big deal with that? I mean it's just a guy. Girls think about guys all the time right? Only this isn't exactly your average guy is it. It's always me. I'm always the one to pick the weirdo.

Something hits my window and instantly I'm on alert. I creep towards the window to investigate the source of the noise.

PING!

Another stone hits the window. I jump back in surprise but then quickly step forward and open it.

There he is, half hidden by shadow the other half dosed in light from the moon.

"Hey." I call down to him and he smiles.

"Hey."

I signal to him and he's up my sloping roof within an instant, leaning against the window frame.

"So you survived Riley then."

"Yes."

"And how bad did he look when he ran from you?"

"Pretty bad. He'll live though."

"Good."

"Is he your boyfriend?" His turn to delve for answers.

"Not anymore."

He smiles that beautiful smile and I smile back. Maybe he is not weird after all. Well apart from being a vampire I mean.

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