Angel
~Keysuna
A/N I actually have a valid excuse for the delay on this chapter. I've come down with phenomena. I took my limited energy and worked on this, so be grateful!
~ ~ ~
Buffy fidgeted in her chair as the life of the Bronze went on without her. She had noticed the fact that an abnormal amount of cockroaches inhabited the club, mostly because one had run over her foot nearly making her jump in her chair. But as interesting as insect life was, her thoughts were distracted elsewhere.
She hadn't seen Angel for a long while, and she was beginning to worry. The ensouled vampire usually prowled behind her in the shadows, and the only vampires she had sensed recently were those of the staking kind. The Slayer knew she was being paranoid, and that Angel was probably fine, but it didn't stop her from wanting to see him.
"Ah, the fumigation party." Willow sighed, looking plaintively at the scene in front of her and stealing glances to the dance floor.
Buffy nodded, not really listening. "Oh."
"It's a lot of fun. . ." The red head wandered as her gaze landed on her friend. "What's it like where *you* are?"
The statement brought Buffy out of her trance and she blushed as she smiled. "I'm. . . sorry, I was just. . . thinking about things. . ."
"So, we're talking about a guy?" Willow supplied the unspoken information and repositioned herself so she was in better talking position to the Slayer.
Buffy swayed uneasily in her chair. She had forgotten how strange it was to be a teenager in love, especially one with a crush on an eons old vampire. The plaintive looks Willow stole toward Xander on the dance floor nearly made the Slayer cringe with sympathy for the red head. The two life long friends had never really hooked up, and Buffy wondered if maybe she could change that. . . just for interest of course.
"Yes, a guy." The Slayer confessed with sigh, no reason to keep it from Willow.
The red head took the information with a sparkle in the her emerald eyes. "Were talking about Angel, aren't we? I knew it, you're always distant when your thinking about him!" She nearly squealed as she realized the main figure of Buffy's thoughts.
The Slayer smiled with a kept in laugh at her friend and shook her head out of loss of words. "I don't know, I haven't seem him in a while and I don't know if he even wants to see me."
"Of course he wants to see you!" Willow exclaimed excitedly. She had met the vampire once - other then that time at The Harvest - while tagging along with Buffy on patrol. Angel had stepped out of the darkness only to scamper back after noticing the Slayer had company. Buffy hadn't been sure if she was irritated with her friend or not, and then she had remembered how she had abused her friendship with Willow while trying to steal away with Spike. Not that she was still guilty for the action, as it had never really happened, just it seemed as though putting her love life over her friends seemed shallow. So this time around, more scoobie meetings then make out sessions under the facade of patrol.
It was only one more thing to add to the ever growing list.
Buffy blinked awkwardly at Willow's outburst. "And you say this. . ."
"It's obvious!" The red head continued. "He stammers when he's around you, and he fidgets. He doesn't know what to do." Willow was so definite in her observation that Buffy couldn't argue. The uneasiness of Angel when he had appeared in front of the two friends had been apparent, but the Slayer had chalked it up to the vampire encountering Willow.
Then again, he always seemed to be out of place when he was around her. Fidgety and awkward when he spoke, and maybe that was due to the fact that he liked her. "Mhmm." Buffy responded, feeling the paranoia of losing Angel as a lover fall away at her friends assurance. Her eyes drifted off into her own reality and returned after brief thought. "With Angel. . . it's like the lights dim everywhere else. You know how it's like that with some guys?"
After she said it, Buffy noticed where her friends attention had drifted off too. Xander was still on the dance floor, she seemed transfixed as he gave up on dancing as Cordelia chased him off.
"Oh yeah." Willow said, surprising Buffy that she had heard her.
They both watched as Xander clumsily made his way over to their table, tripping over a chair and nearly falling on a couple in the process. Arriving with surprising so physical harm, Xander plopped down in the unoccupied chair, sighing. "Boy, that Cordelia is a regular breath of vile air. What are you vixens up to?"
"Just sitting here, watching our barren lives pass us by." As Willow spoke a bug ran over the floor, inches from her flip flop. "Oh, look, a cockroach." With a monotone movement she stomped on the insect and grinned in faint satisfaction.
Buffy watched her friend and then scanned the Bronze, returning to Xander in interest. "Where's Jesse? I thought he said he was going to meet us tonight."
Xander looked up from where he had been previously cleaning his fingernails. "Jesse? Oh, he's stuck at home on grounds of being grounded."
The Slayer nodded her answer and stifled a yawn. She hadn't noticed sleep creep up on her and now all she wanted was to curl on the couch with some tea. It wasn't as if the Bronze was that exciting tonight, and watching Willow try to catch Xander's attention while he cleaned his fingernails wasn't exactly her idea of fun.
"I'm pretty beat, think I'm going to call it a night." Buffy yawned, standing up and grabbing her bag.
Willow turned around quickly. "No, don't go!" It seemed almost a plea and Buffy knew why. The red head wanted someone there to lean on while she tried to reel in Xander.
"Don't go, we could. . . dance!" Xander said before Buffy could reply to Willow.
Shaking her head, Buffy told the two she was way to tired to enjoy the club life and just wanted to head home. The both finally let her go and the Slayer walked quickly out of the Bronze, feeling the night wrap around her as she entered the world outside.
~ ~ ~
She knew there was something out there before they appeared. The Slayer had enough time to assess the situation and slide a stake in her hand in time. They attacked in force, all three of them in the battle and it took all Buffy's training to keep from falling.
They weren't that far from the Bronze, distanced enough so they weren't in sight of the club, but most any one walking out would see the three vampires and herself.
So when they dragged her into an alley way, Buffy found it hard to complain.
The vampires were powerful, and even with her advanced training, the Slayer couldn't fight off the attack. Two of them caught her by either wrist and forced her against the back of the alley. The third advanced on her, fangs bared and death gleaming in his eyes.
Acting on instinct Buffy kneed the vampire in the groin and took advantage of the other two by elbowing one in the nose and snap kicking the other with a swift roundhouse kick. Freed from their grasp she bolted quickly, only to run into a shadowed figure, who had just entered the battle scene.
"Hey." She said breathlessly, well aware of the three vampires behind her.
"Having trouble?" Was Angel's only reply as one of her attackers came with a punch that was directed to her head, Buffy quickly snapped around and took the vampires hand in her own. She redirected the force and threw him against the back of the alley.
She didn't have time to dawdle on the fact that Angel had reappeared into her life as she was suddenly fighting the remaining two vampires while her follower went to deal with other one.
The Slayer let her training take over and spinned into a crescent kick that took down one of the vampires. Turning so she faced the standing one they traded punches until Buffy found a chance to side sweep him down. Before she could fool herself into thinking she had won, she heard Angel yell.
"Watch out!"
As she turned she felt a searing pain lash across her chest as the vampire she had first taken down slashed her across the chest. Angel quickly slammed the assailant he had been dealing with against the wall, knocking him out and launched himself toward the vampire with the weapon. He was holding a metal bar in right hand and was standing above the kneeling Buffy who held both hands across the wound. The vampire raised the weapon to finish the job but was knocked off by Angel, the metal bar instead came crashing down on the Slayer's head, knocking her out onto the hard ground of the alleyway.
~ ~ ~
Buffy came to while she was carried in Angel's arms as he crashed through the dark. She could feel the blood drip from the wound on her chest, it was deep and the pain radiated throughout her body. Sensing that she had awoken, Angel said something, but the Slayer couldn't make it out as sleep tried to take her back. She didn't protest, it would make the pain lessen.
~ ~ ~
It took Angel four and half minutes to find his apartment. He hadn't been able to shake the three vampires that chased him and as he reached his door he was shaking with fear. If it was out of encountering The Three, or the wound Buffy had received, he didn't know.
But it had been a long while since he had been afraid of anything but himself.
He shouldered the door open and rushed in, quickly going over to the couch and laying Buffy on it. He kneeled beside her and laid a hand on her shoulder for comfort while he raised the material of her tank top to inspect the wound. Her shirt was a light pink and the added blood stain was an uncomfortable sight. Angel had to cringe at the wound, it was deep and blood was flowing freely. She wasn't a normal human, but to any creature this would be a near fatal injury.
And as much as Angel wanted to help her, the blood was overpowering his judgment. The scent of Slayer blood was enough to drive any vampire to game face and Angel was having a hard time keeping it together. Just as he was about to get up to get out of temptations way, he felt her swim back to conciseness, her eyes heavy with pain.
"Angel." She choked, the effort to cling to life obvious.
He clutched her hand and brought it to his lips, meeting her eyes and trying to lend her strength. "I'm here."
The Slayer nodded slowly, and winced slightly from the pain.
"Your going to be okay." Angel breathed out. Without thinking he kissed her knuckles, watching her with unblinking eyes.
There was a weak smile on her lips. "I know, I'm with you."
~ ~ ~
When Buffy came to again, she was laying under red satin sheets and against the chest of a man. It took her a moment to realize where she was, and who she was leaning against. Her mind still groggy from sleep, Buffy tried to remember if she had slept with Angel as she attempted to move away. Pain lashed across her chest at the sudden move and she yelped in surprise.
"Hey, take it easy." Angel said, putting a hand on her shoulder to still her. He shifted position to meet her eyes. "Your still hurt."
Buffy nodded and shut her eyes to remember the events that had occurred. The three vampires, the wound, Angel saving her. . . Instinctively she let her hand find the injury. The lower part of her stomach was bandaged and she lay only in her bra. Even with the reality of what had happened, she found herself blushing.
She also noticed Angel lay bare-chested.
"Why are we. . ." Buffy trailed off, referring to the fact that they were in bed together. Apart of her relished in the guilty pleasure. She hadn't laid next to the vampire like this in what seemed like a lifetime ago, and she missed it. But it also tore her, knowing that they could sleep in the same bed, but they could never sleep together.
It took Angel a moment to gather himself and he quickly jumped out of the bed, he stood with only a pair of pants and the chain he always wore. Buffy drew herself up against the head bored, slowly to avoid pain. She pulled the sheets up past her shoulders and met Angel's gaze.
"The wound didn't hit any organs, I bandaged you up. You should be fine in a few days. . . but after you passed out you begin to thrash. I was afraid you'd tear something so I had to. . ." The explanation he offered was awkward and he trailed off, not knowing how to phrase it.
"Had to sleep with me." Buffy supplied for him quietly. "It's fine, really, I don't mind."
Angel shook his head and came to sit on the edge of the bed. "You got pretty violent."
"Sorry." The Slayer said meekly.
"No, I'm just relived your all right." He sighed, expelling unneeded air. "I thought I had lost you."
The Slayer gave a tight smile as she played with a lose thread from the covers. "Promise me something. . ." She trailed off as he nodded. "Promise me you won't leave."
Angel seemed to falter for a moment while he took in what he had been told. "I won't." He said it so convincingly that neither felt the need to say anything more.
And he watched her until she drifted back to sleep.
~ ~ ~
This time when Buffy awoke it was to the back of a fully dressed Angel. She was feeling better, the pain in her stomach lessened.
"What time is it?" She whispered, her throat dry.
The vampire turned around quickly, a soft smile on his face. "The sun just went down."
It took Buffy a moment to calculate the passage of days. "Oh my god, I've got to get home, my mom doesn't know where I am. . ." She attempted to rise out of bed, but cringed in pain until Angel helped her up.
"Your still hurt." He reminded her, taking a few steps away.
She sighed impatiently. "I know, but I have to get home."
Angel nodded in acceptance and watched as she struggled to move forward. Her eyes closed tightly as if she refused to admit defeat although she knew she was still to weak to make the walk back. He turned away from her to grab her shirt, which was still blood stained, and handed it to her. She smiled weakly in thanks and slipped it on.
"Do you have a car?" She asked with hurt pride.
The vampire shook his head. "Here, let me help you." He came over to her and wrapped an arm around her waist, allowing her to lean on him for support. In this position she was able to make her way out of the apartment and to the newly born night above with little complaint from her wound.
"Where not that far away from your house." Angel told her as they walked slowly through the park. It was still to early for the crowed that headed for the Bronze, and to late for anyone out for the day. So the area was desolate of life, and Buffy only hoped that none of the undead decided to take advantage of an impaired Slayer.
"How do you know where I live." She asked with a hint of a smile as they stepped off a curb and onto the street.
He looked down to her. "You know where I live, it's only fair."
Buffy hid a grin by letting her eyes wander toward the street. She was blushing slightly that Angel had taken the time to find where she lived. The older part of her cursed herself that she was acting like a young school girl in love for the first time, and the child part that had been rekindled noticed that as Angel helped her back home, they looked like lovers.
It surprised her when they reached her house. She had been concentrating on breathing rather then her surroundings as the pain begun to creep back. The wound reminded her of the one she had received while she was still battling Glory. Where she had slipped up and had a stake driven through her stomach by a vampire. Even then she had been back in the game after a few days, and the pain hadn't been this bad. It made her wonder how long she'd be sitting on the sidelines.
Angel helped her up the doorstep and waited for her to go inside. His dark eyes came to meet her own, and Buffy met them. "Will you take patrol, at least, until I get better?"
He nodded. "Long as you need."
Buffy took in a deep breath and readied herself by divorcing from Angel and walking independently to the door. She opened it and light bathed the porch. The vampire came to her side, but she didn't take the offered help as she walked in. He watched from the doorway as she slowly peered around the corner to the kitchen. Seemingly not seeing her mother, she turned back toward Angel.
"You can come in." She said tentatively, apprehensive about where her mother was. He gave a small nod and entered the house, hands disappearing into the depths of his pockets. She looked around once more before turning her attention on the vampire. "I don't know where my mom is, I guess maybe she's out or something-"
"Buffy?"
The Slayer was cut off as her mother spotted her from the top of the stairs. She hurried down the steps, worry painted in her eyes. "Oh my god, I was worried sick, where were you? What happened? Are you all right?" The questions came so fast and was lost among a hug that Buffy couldn't find the proper words to explain, only yelped in pain as the embrace became to strong.
"Buffy. . . what's wrong?" Her mother drew back quickly as the Slayer clutched the wound. In both effort to minimize the pain and hide the blood stain on her shirt.
"It's nothing, I was, it. . ." Her eyes traveled toward the Angel who had stood silent during the scene. She cursed herself a moment later, because now her mothers attention was also on the mysterious stranger who had brought her daughter home.
"Buffy was jumped." Angel supplied calmly, meeting Joyce's eyes with a level gaze. "She was slashed across the stomach with a metal rod before I could help." Even as he told her the events, Buffy's mother didn't become frantic as he delivered it with such confidence. The Slayer knew Angel was a good actor, but even this surprised her.
Joyce turned back toward Buffy, who stood nervously. "You were jumped? Weren't Willow or Xander with you?"
"No, I got tired and left the Bronze early." She stated awkwardly as her mother again turned toward Angel.
"And exactly who are you. . ."
"Angel's a med. Student. We met at the Bronze a few nights ago." Buffy supplied quickly off the top of her head. "He fixed me back up after the attack."
The bewilderment and worry was evident in Joyce's eyes as she tried to make sense of everything. "Mr. Angel, thank you for helping out my daughter, but why didn't you think to call me?"
"I didn't know the number. . . and Buffy was out for most of the time." The vampire said quickly.
Joyce nodded and sent a quick glance toward her daughter. "Well, thank you again, but if you don't mind, I really think I need some alone time with Buffy."
Angel nodded, his eyes lingering on the Slayer before he left. She bit her lower lip as he walked out the door.
"Goodness, Buffy, what happened to you!" Joyce exclaimed once she had showed Angel out. She came over to her daughter and shook her head in worry. She softly moved Buffy's arms away from where she covered the blood stain and raised the shirt up, exposing the bandaged wound. A small gasp escape from her lips.
"It's OK mom, Angel fixed it. I'll be fine in a few days."
"And how exactly did you meet this man? Are you two. . ."
"No, mom." Buffy grasped for an explanation. "I see him at the Bronze a lot, we've talked before but it's nothing like that. We're friends, and he helped me out."
Joyce sighed. "Well you owe your friend a thank you, when you feel up to it I expect you to go over to his house and thank him for helping you."
The Slayer nodded. "I know, but now I'm exhausted. Think I'm going to call it a night."
Her mother smiled tightly. "I'll call the school and tell them you won't be in tomorrow."
Buffy nodded and turned to up the stairs. Her scamper turned into a slow walk as the pain again let it's self be known as she climbed the steps.
Joyce watched her daughter and wet her lips. "Buffy." She called and the blonde turned, wincing at the sudden stab of pain. "Are you going to be OK?"
The Slayer nodded. "I'll be fine." And as she resumed her climb, she wondered if what she had just said was true.
~ ~ ~
It had been a four days and the wound was still keeping Buffy from patrol. She had spent four days at home, and two recovering at Angels. That added to nearly a week that she hadn't been out there in the dark doing her job.
The second day home her mother had come up to her with a phone call. Checking the time before she picked up the receiver, she noticed it couldn't be Jesse, Xander or Willow on grounds they were still in school. So she held the phone to her ear nervously, letting a sigh of relief as she heard the English accent on the other end. Angel had stopped by afterwards to tell Giles what had happened, disappearing into the shadows before the Watcher could get the necessary details. Buffy assured him that she was all right, and once her mother left the room, she whispered in a hush tone; "I've gotten hurt before, not this bad but close to it and I've been fine in a day or so. I'm not healing as fast as I should, isn't that apart of the Slaying package?"
Giles told her that as she grew older, and her strength grew, so would her healing abilities. Technically, she was still new to her status as a Slayer, and her body needed time to accept the power. He did tell her that she would be well soon, faster then a normal human, but not as fast as Buffy felt it should be.
Later on that day, Willow stopped by with soup and the schoolwork Buffy had missed. She stayed for a while, listening as Buffy told her the events of what had happened.
"So he slept with you?" The red asked.
Buffy nodded and took a sip of the soup. "It wasn't anything sexual. . . but I don't know, I can't tell what's going on between us."
The Slayer finished telling her friend what happened and quickly changed the subject by asking how Jesse and Xander were doing.
"Well," Willow started, the gleam in her eyes dimming. "Jesse asked Kristin Applebee to the dance this weekend. . . and Xander told me that once you got better he was going to ask you."
Buffy felt her stomach sink and tried to remember how long it took Xander to move away from her. As she thought back on it, he hadn't let the crush die until he had found Anya. Even when he was with Cordelia he still had the Slayer in the back of his mind. And poor Willow. . . she just wanted Xander to notice her as more then a friend.
"If you makes you feel better, I'll say no." Buffy supplied, and Willow looked up from where she had been tracing the designs on Buffy's bed.
"I know. . . I mean, if you wanted to you could, but I just wish. . ." The red head stumbled off sadly.
Buffy wished she could tell Willow about Oz, and that there was someone at there for her. Forgetting her earlier pondering about setting up Willow and Xander, she wondered if the soon to be witch and werewolf hadn't had that falling out, if Willow would have turned gay.
Rationalizing that was still a ways off, she changed the subject again to a safer topic.
~ ~ ~
Her eighth day on the mend, Buffy peeked at the wound and was delighted to see that it was nearly healed. The pain that had plagued her had nearly disappeared unless she tried something to physically strenuous. So when her mother left for work that day, Buffy got dressed and slid a stake into her waist band out of habit before heading toward Angels.
The sun was out strong and as she felt much better now that she was outside. She took the walk slow, trying to think of exactly what she would say to Angel. "Oh hey, thanks for saving my life and you know, I love you, or at least I did and I think we should give it a go." Just seemed to blunt.
She reached the apartment and paused to sort her thoughts before she knocked. Voices were filtering from under the door, and Buffy pressed her ear against the surface to listen.
"You and I both know what you hunger for. What you need. Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's who we are. It's what makes eternal life worth living. Mm. You can only suppress your real nature for so long. You can feel it brewing inside of you. I hope I'm around when it explodes."
Buffy didn't recognize the voice, but she knew Angel's when he growled that she didn't want to be.
There was pause. "I'm not afraid of you. I bet she is, though. Or maybe I'm underestimating her. Talk to her. Tell her about the curse. Maybe she'll come around. And if she still doesn't trust you, you know where I'll be."
Darla. The voice was Darla.
Forgetting the wound, she pushed the door open and stumbled into the apartment. Darla stood just feet away from her, amused by the intrusion. Angel just looked angry.
Realizing that her act had been on impulse rather then logic, Buffy swallowed hard. She didn't have the strength to fight a vampire as strong as Darla, and it didn't look as if Angel would help her.
"The Slayer." The female vampire hissed, sizing her up with her eyes.
Buffy glared at her, hands itching to go for the stake secured at her waistband, but she waited. No need to make the first move.
"Do you know what the saddest thing in the world is?" She continued as idly, casting a glance back toward Angel who stood still in the shadows.
The Slayer kept silent.
Darla walked around the other blonde. "To love someone who used to love you."
The darkness in the room seemed suffocating as silence descended. And then, Buffy laughed. "No, it's loving someone who you can't have." The Slayer finally whipped the stake out and held it in her hand for both vampires to see. "And it's not sad, it's just love."
Darla growled and her features changed into her true form. She was about to attack, and Buffy didn't know what to do, she was in no condition to fight. Before the vampire had a chance to lunge, Angel growled and launched himself at Darla, sending them both sprawling to the floor.
The Slayer retreated back to give the vampires room. She felt useless standing there as they wrestled on the ground, holding the stake limply in her hand.
Angel had got the upper hand and straddled Darla, keeping her wrists pinned in one hand above her head.
Darla just smiled up at him. "Your hurting me, that's good."
The male vampire growled ferociously and took one of her arms, bending it backwards. She screeched as the bone snapped and Angel climbed off of her. Darla struggled to her feet, clutching her broken arm.
"I don't know what you are anymore Angel." She said low, hurt laced in her words. Her eyes went traveled to Buffy, where she still stood silent. "You can have him girl." The words were spit out harshly, and she ran out of the apartment in vampire speed.
Angel was back in the shadows, breathing heavily. Buffy stepped closer to him. "You didn't kill her."
He looked up at her, and it was then that she realized he was in game face. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to say thanks, for saving my life." She said with more determination then she knew she had. "I came to talk about things."
"Get out." He growled harshly, fangs reflected in the faint light.
Buffy shook her head and came closer. "We need to talk."
Before the Slayer could realize Angel had slammed her up against the wall, hands digging into her shoulders and eyes level with her. The attack hadn't hurt, was just forceful.
"Every time I see you I want to kiss you." His face still showed his true nature and he took a moment to morph back to his human guise. "You saw me, I'm a vampire, an animal. I'm not safe to be around."
She shook her head slowly and drew a hand up to his cheek. He lessened the pressure on her shoulders, but kept his hands there. "I trust you Angel, isn't that all that matters?"
He turned his face away from her and Buffy let her hand fall back down.
"Go home Buffy."
With a brief nod, she slid away from him and left the apartment without another word. She cast a last glance toward Angel, and wondered how he was always able to blend into the shadows.
~ ~ ~
"Ah, the post fumigation party." Xander sighed, placing his feet on the table. Willow smiled tentatively and Buffy watched as Jesse danced with Kristen, his new girlfriend. It had been a week since she had seen Angel, and the absence didn't make her anxious to see him again. The wound had healed completely a few days ago and her mother had been baffled that she was back to good so quickly. She had told Giles what had happened, but had only given Willow the whole story about her encounter with Angel and Darla.
Xander had never kept up on his promise to ask her ask out, which Buffy was happy for. She was confused enough about Angel without having to risk a friendship falling apart over rejection. Just as she was about to get up for something to drink, she noticed a black coated man push his way through the crowed. Buffy was mesmerized as she watched him and Willow tapped her on the arm.
"Angels here." She whispered apprehensively.
The Slayer nodded slowly and got up to meet him in the middle of the dance floor. They stood, not speaking, Angel's gaze elsewhere.
"I owe you an apology." He said finally, letting his eyes meet her own. "I was, what happened. . ."
"I understand." Buffy gave him a small smile.
The song changed to a slow one and the couples around them moved closer to each other. Before the Slayer could say another word Angel wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her. It took her a moment to realize what had happened, but she quickly relaxed in his embrace. Kissing Angel had always been different then Riley or Spike, or anyone for that matter. She had forgotten how much she missed it as she wrapped an arm around his neck.
They parted slowly and Buffy nodded to him. "You OK?"
"It's painful." He told her, dark eyes brimming with something she hadn't seen in them recently. Maybe it was love.
"Better then nothing at all." She nodded to him and left the dance floor. Angel watched her go, hand coming to where her cross had left a deep burn.
~Keysuna
A/N I actually have a valid excuse for the delay on this chapter. I've come down with phenomena. I took my limited energy and worked on this, so be grateful!
~ ~ ~
Buffy fidgeted in her chair as the life of the Bronze went on without her. She had noticed the fact that an abnormal amount of cockroaches inhabited the club, mostly because one had run over her foot nearly making her jump in her chair. But as interesting as insect life was, her thoughts were distracted elsewhere.
She hadn't seen Angel for a long while, and she was beginning to worry. The ensouled vampire usually prowled behind her in the shadows, and the only vampires she had sensed recently were those of the staking kind. The Slayer knew she was being paranoid, and that Angel was probably fine, but it didn't stop her from wanting to see him.
"Ah, the fumigation party." Willow sighed, looking plaintively at the scene in front of her and stealing glances to the dance floor.
Buffy nodded, not really listening. "Oh."
"It's a lot of fun. . ." The red head wandered as her gaze landed on her friend. "What's it like where *you* are?"
The statement brought Buffy out of her trance and she blushed as she smiled. "I'm. . . sorry, I was just. . . thinking about things. . ."
"So, we're talking about a guy?" Willow supplied the unspoken information and repositioned herself so she was in better talking position to the Slayer.
Buffy swayed uneasily in her chair. She had forgotten how strange it was to be a teenager in love, especially one with a crush on an eons old vampire. The plaintive looks Willow stole toward Xander on the dance floor nearly made the Slayer cringe with sympathy for the red head. The two life long friends had never really hooked up, and Buffy wondered if maybe she could change that. . . just for interest of course.
"Yes, a guy." The Slayer confessed with sigh, no reason to keep it from Willow.
The red head took the information with a sparkle in the her emerald eyes. "Were talking about Angel, aren't we? I knew it, you're always distant when your thinking about him!" She nearly squealed as she realized the main figure of Buffy's thoughts.
The Slayer smiled with a kept in laugh at her friend and shook her head out of loss of words. "I don't know, I haven't seem him in a while and I don't know if he even wants to see me."
"Of course he wants to see you!" Willow exclaimed excitedly. She had met the vampire once - other then that time at The Harvest - while tagging along with Buffy on patrol. Angel had stepped out of the darkness only to scamper back after noticing the Slayer had company. Buffy hadn't been sure if she was irritated with her friend or not, and then she had remembered how she had abused her friendship with Willow while trying to steal away with Spike. Not that she was still guilty for the action, as it had never really happened, just it seemed as though putting her love life over her friends seemed shallow. So this time around, more scoobie meetings then make out sessions under the facade of patrol.
It was only one more thing to add to the ever growing list.
Buffy blinked awkwardly at Willow's outburst. "And you say this. . ."
"It's obvious!" The red head continued. "He stammers when he's around you, and he fidgets. He doesn't know what to do." Willow was so definite in her observation that Buffy couldn't argue. The uneasiness of Angel when he had appeared in front of the two friends had been apparent, but the Slayer had chalked it up to the vampire encountering Willow.
Then again, he always seemed to be out of place when he was around her. Fidgety and awkward when he spoke, and maybe that was due to the fact that he liked her. "Mhmm." Buffy responded, feeling the paranoia of losing Angel as a lover fall away at her friends assurance. Her eyes drifted off into her own reality and returned after brief thought. "With Angel. . . it's like the lights dim everywhere else. You know how it's like that with some guys?"
After she said it, Buffy noticed where her friends attention had drifted off too. Xander was still on the dance floor, she seemed transfixed as he gave up on dancing as Cordelia chased him off.
"Oh yeah." Willow said, surprising Buffy that she had heard her.
They both watched as Xander clumsily made his way over to their table, tripping over a chair and nearly falling on a couple in the process. Arriving with surprising so physical harm, Xander plopped down in the unoccupied chair, sighing. "Boy, that Cordelia is a regular breath of vile air. What are you vixens up to?"
"Just sitting here, watching our barren lives pass us by." As Willow spoke a bug ran over the floor, inches from her flip flop. "Oh, look, a cockroach." With a monotone movement she stomped on the insect and grinned in faint satisfaction.
Buffy watched her friend and then scanned the Bronze, returning to Xander in interest. "Where's Jesse? I thought he said he was going to meet us tonight."
Xander looked up from where he had been previously cleaning his fingernails. "Jesse? Oh, he's stuck at home on grounds of being grounded."
The Slayer nodded her answer and stifled a yawn. She hadn't noticed sleep creep up on her and now all she wanted was to curl on the couch with some tea. It wasn't as if the Bronze was that exciting tonight, and watching Willow try to catch Xander's attention while he cleaned his fingernails wasn't exactly her idea of fun.
"I'm pretty beat, think I'm going to call it a night." Buffy yawned, standing up and grabbing her bag.
Willow turned around quickly. "No, don't go!" It seemed almost a plea and Buffy knew why. The red head wanted someone there to lean on while she tried to reel in Xander.
"Don't go, we could. . . dance!" Xander said before Buffy could reply to Willow.
Shaking her head, Buffy told the two she was way to tired to enjoy the club life and just wanted to head home. The both finally let her go and the Slayer walked quickly out of the Bronze, feeling the night wrap around her as she entered the world outside.
~ ~ ~
She knew there was something out there before they appeared. The Slayer had enough time to assess the situation and slide a stake in her hand in time. They attacked in force, all three of them in the battle and it took all Buffy's training to keep from falling.
They weren't that far from the Bronze, distanced enough so they weren't in sight of the club, but most any one walking out would see the three vampires and herself.
So when they dragged her into an alley way, Buffy found it hard to complain.
The vampires were powerful, and even with her advanced training, the Slayer couldn't fight off the attack. Two of them caught her by either wrist and forced her against the back of the alley. The third advanced on her, fangs bared and death gleaming in his eyes.
Acting on instinct Buffy kneed the vampire in the groin and took advantage of the other two by elbowing one in the nose and snap kicking the other with a swift roundhouse kick. Freed from their grasp she bolted quickly, only to run into a shadowed figure, who had just entered the battle scene.
"Hey." She said breathlessly, well aware of the three vampires behind her.
"Having trouble?" Was Angel's only reply as one of her attackers came with a punch that was directed to her head, Buffy quickly snapped around and took the vampires hand in her own. She redirected the force and threw him against the back of the alley.
She didn't have time to dawdle on the fact that Angel had reappeared into her life as she was suddenly fighting the remaining two vampires while her follower went to deal with other one.
The Slayer let her training take over and spinned into a crescent kick that took down one of the vampires. Turning so she faced the standing one they traded punches until Buffy found a chance to side sweep him down. Before she could fool herself into thinking she had won, she heard Angel yell.
"Watch out!"
As she turned she felt a searing pain lash across her chest as the vampire she had first taken down slashed her across the chest. Angel quickly slammed the assailant he had been dealing with against the wall, knocking him out and launched himself toward the vampire with the weapon. He was holding a metal bar in right hand and was standing above the kneeling Buffy who held both hands across the wound. The vampire raised the weapon to finish the job but was knocked off by Angel, the metal bar instead came crashing down on the Slayer's head, knocking her out onto the hard ground of the alleyway.
~ ~ ~
Buffy came to while she was carried in Angel's arms as he crashed through the dark. She could feel the blood drip from the wound on her chest, it was deep and the pain radiated throughout her body. Sensing that she had awoken, Angel said something, but the Slayer couldn't make it out as sleep tried to take her back. She didn't protest, it would make the pain lessen.
~ ~ ~
It took Angel four and half minutes to find his apartment. He hadn't been able to shake the three vampires that chased him and as he reached his door he was shaking with fear. If it was out of encountering The Three, or the wound Buffy had received, he didn't know.
But it had been a long while since he had been afraid of anything but himself.
He shouldered the door open and rushed in, quickly going over to the couch and laying Buffy on it. He kneeled beside her and laid a hand on her shoulder for comfort while he raised the material of her tank top to inspect the wound. Her shirt was a light pink and the added blood stain was an uncomfortable sight. Angel had to cringe at the wound, it was deep and blood was flowing freely. She wasn't a normal human, but to any creature this would be a near fatal injury.
And as much as Angel wanted to help her, the blood was overpowering his judgment. The scent of Slayer blood was enough to drive any vampire to game face and Angel was having a hard time keeping it together. Just as he was about to get up to get out of temptations way, he felt her swim back to conciseness, her eyes heavy with pain.
"Angel." She choked, the effort to cling to life obvious.
He clutched her hand and brought it to his lips, meeting her eyes and trying to lend her strength. "I'm here."
The Slayer nodded slowly, and winced slightly from the pain.
"Your going to be okay." Angel breathed out. Without thinking he kissed her knuckles, watching her with unblinking eyes.
There was a weak smile on her lips. "I know, I'm with you."
~ ~ ~
When Buffy came to again, she was laying under red satin sheets and against the chest of a man. It took her a moment to realize where she was, and who she was leaning against. Her mind still groggy from sleep, Buffy tried to remember if she had slept with Angel as she attempted to move away. Pain lashed across her chest at the sudden move and she yelped in surprise.
"Hey, take it easy." Angel said, putting a hand on her shoulder to still her. He shifted position to meet her eyes. "Your still hurt."
Buffy nodded and shut her eyes to remember the events that had occurred. The three vampires, the wound, Angel saving her. . . Instinctively she let her hand find the injury. The lower part of her stomach was bandaged and she lay only in her bra. Even with the reality of what had happened, she found herself blushing.
She also noticed Angel lay bare-chested.
"Why are we. . ." Buffy trailed off, referring to the fact that they were in bed together. Apart of her relished in the guilty pleasure. She hadn't laid next to the vampire like this in what seemed like a lifetime ago, and she missed it. But it also tore her, knowing that they could sleep in the same bed, but they could never sleep together.
It took Angel a moment to gather himself and he quickly jumped out of the bed, he stood with only a pair of pants and the chain he always wore. Buffy drew herself up against the head bored, slowly to avoid pain. She pulled the sheets up past her shoulders and met Angel's gaze.
"The wound didn't hit any organs, I bandaged you up. You should be fine in a few days. . . but after you passed out you begin to thrash. I was afraid you'd tear something so I had to. . ." The explanation he offered was awkward and he trailed off, not knowing how to phrase it.
"Had to sleep with me." Buffy supplied for him quietly. "It's fine, really, I don't mind."
Angel shook his head and came to sit on the edge of the bed. "You got pretty violent."
"Sorry." The Slayer said meekly.
"No, I'm just relived your all right." He sighed, expelling unneeded air. "I thought I had lost you."
The Slayer gave a tight smile as she played with a lose thread from the covers. "Promise me something. . ." She trailed off as he nodded. "Promise me you won't leave."
Angel seemed to falter for a moment while he took in what he had been told. "I won't." He said it so convincingly that neither felt the need to say anything more.
And he watched her until she drifted back to sleep.
~ ~ ~
This time when Buffy awoke it was to the back of a fully dressed Angel. She was feeling better, the pain in her stomach lessened.
"What time is it?" She whispered, her throat dry.
The vampire turned around quickly, a soft smile on his face. "The sun just went down."
It took Buffy a moment to calculate the passage of days. "Oh my god, I've got to get home, my mom doesn't know where I am. . ." She attempted to rise out of bed, but cringed in pain until Angel helped her up.
"Your still hurt." He reminded her, taking a few steps away.
She sighed impatiently. "I know, but I have to get home."
Angel nodded in acceptance and watched as she struggled to move forward. Her eyes closed tightly as if she refused to admit defeat although she knew she was still to weak to make the walk back. He turned away from her to grab her shirt, which was still blood stained, and handed it to her. She smiled weakly in thanks and slipped it on.
"Do you have a car?" She asked with hurt pride.
The vampire shook his head. "Here, let me help you." He came over to her and wrapped an arm around her waist, allowing her to lean on him for support. In this position she was able to make her way out of the apartment and to the newly born night above with little complaint from her wound.
"Where not that far away from your house." Angel told her as they walked slowly through the park. It was still to early for the crowed that headed for the Bronze, and to late for anyone out for the day. So the area was desolate of life, and Buffy only hoped that none of the undead decided to take advantage of an impaired Slayer.
"How do you know where I live." She asked with a hint of a smile as they stepped off a curb and onto the street.
He looked down to her. "You know where I live, it's only fair."
Buffy hid a grin by letting her eyes wander toward the street. She was blushing slightly that Angel had taken the time to find where she lived. The older part of her cursed herself that she was acting like a young school girl in love for the first time, and the child part that had been rekindled noticed that as Angel helped her back home, they looked like lovers.
It surprised her when they reached her house. She had been concentrating on breathing rather then her surroundings as the pain begun to creep back. The wound reminded her of the one she had received while she was still battling Glory. Where she had slipped up and had a stake driven through her stomach by a vampire. Even then she had been back in the game after a few days, and the pain hadn't been this bad. It made her wonder how long she'd be sitting on the sidelines.
Angel helped her up the doorstep and waited for her to go inside. His dark eyes came to meet her own, and Buffy met them. "Will you take patrol, at least, until I get better?"
He nodded. "Long as you need."
Buffy took in a deep breath and readied herself by divorcing from Angel and walking independently to the door. She opened it and light bathed the porch. The vampire came to her side, but she didn't take the offered help as she walked in. He watched from the doorway as she slowly peered around the corner to the kitchen. Seemingly not seeing her mother, she turned back toward Angel.
"You can come in." She said tentatively, apprehensive about where her mother was. He gave a small nod and entered the house, hands disappearing into the depths of his pockets. She looked around once more before turning her attention on the vampire. "I don't know where my mom is, I guess maybe she's out or something-"
"Buffy?"
The Slayer was cut off as her mother spotted her from the top of the stairs. She hurried down the steps, worry painted in her eyes. "Oh my god, I was worried sick, where were you? What happened? Are you all right?" The questions came so fast and was lost among a hug that Buffy couldn't find the proper words to explain, only yelped in pain as the embrace became to strong.
"Buffy. . . what's wrong?" Her mother drew back quickly as the Slayer clutched the wound. In both effort to minimize the pain and hide the blood stain on her shirt.
"It's nothing, I was, it. . ." Her eyes traveled toward the Angel who had stood silent during the scene. She cursed herself a moment later, because now her mothers attention was also on the mysterious stranger who had brought her daughter home.
"Buffy was jumped." Angel supplied calmly, meeting Joyce's eyes with a level gaze. "She was slashed across the stomach with a metal rod before I could help." Even as he told her the events, Buffy's mother didn't become frantic as he delivered it with such confidence. The Slayer knew Angel was a good actor, but even this surprised her.
Joyce turned back toward Buffy, who stood nervously. "You were jumped? Weren't Willow or Xander with you?"
"No, I got tired and left the Bronze early." She stated awkwardly as her mother again turned toward Angel.
"And exactly who are you. . ."
"Angel's a med. Student. We met at the Bronze a few nights ago." Buffy supplied quickly off the top of her head. "He fixed me back up after the attack."
The bewilderment and worry was evident in Joyce's eyes as she tried to make sense of everything. "Mr. Angel, thank you for helping out my daughter, but why didn't you think to call me?"
"I didn't know the number. . . and Buffy was out for most of the time." The vampire said quickly.
Joyce nodded and sent a quick glance toward her daughter. "Well, thank you again, but if you don't mind, I really think I need some alone time with Buffy."
Angel nodded, his eyes lingering on the Slayer before he left. She bit her lower lip as he walked out the door.
"Goodness, Buffy, what happened to you!" Joyce exclaimed once she had showed Angel out. She came over to her daughter and shook her head in worry. She softly moved Buffy's arms away from where she covered the blood stain and raised the shirt up, exposing the bandaged wound. A small gasp escape from her lips.
"It's OK mom, Angel fixed it. I'll be fine in a few days."
"And how exactly did you meet this man? Are you two. . ."
"No, mom." Buffy grasped for an explanation. "I see him at the Bronze a lot, we've talked before but it's nothing like that. We're friends, and he helped me out."
Joyce sighed. "Well you owe your friend a thank you, when you feel up to it I expect you to go over to his house and thank him for helping you."
The Slayer nodded. "I know, but now I'm exhausted. Think I'm going to call it a night."
Her mother smiled tightly. "I'll call the school and tell them you won't be in tomorrow."
Buffy nodded and turned to up the stairs. Her scamper turned into a slow walk as the pain again let it's self be known as she climbed the steps.
Joyce watched her daughter and wet her lips. "Buffy." She called and the blonde turned, wincing at the sudden stab of pain. "Are you going to be OK?"
The Slayer nodded. "I'll be fine." And as she resumed her climb, she wondered if what she had just said was true.
~ ~ ~
It had been a four days and the wound was still keeping Buffy from patrol. She had spent four days at home, and two recovering at Angels. That added to nearly a week that she hadn't been out there in the dark doing her job.
The second day home her mother had come up to her with a phone call. Checking the time before she picked up the receiver, she noticed it couldn't be Jesse, Xander or Willow on grounds they were still in school. So she held the phone to her ear nervously, letting a sigh of relief as she heard the English accent on the other end. Angel had stopped by afterwards to tell Giles what had happened, disappearing into the shadows before the Watcher could get the necessary details. Buffy assured him that she was all right, and once her mother left the room, she whispered in a hush tone; "I've gotten hurt before, not this bad but close to it and I've been fine in a day or so. I'm not healing as fast as I should, isn't that apart of the Slaying package?"
Giles told her that as she grew older, and her strength grew, so would her healing abilities. Technically, she was still new to her status as a Slayer, and her body needed time to accept the power. He did tell her that she would be well soon, faster then a normal human, but not as fast as Buffy felt it should be.
Later on that day, Willow stopped by with soup and the schoolwork Buffy had missed. She stayed for a while, listening as Buffy told her the events of what had happened.
"So he slept with you?" The red asked.
Buffy nodded and took a sip of the soup. "It wasn't anything sexual. . . but I don't know, I can't tell what's going on between us."
The Slayer finished telling her friend what happened and quickly changed the subject by asking how Jesse and Xander were doing.
"Well," Willow started, the gleam in her eyes dimming. "Jesse asked Kristin Applebee to the dance this weekend. . . and Xander told me that once you got better he was going to ask you."
Buffy felt her stomach sink and tried to remember how long it took Xander to move away from her. As she thought back on it, he hadn't let the crush die until he had found Anya. Even when he was with Cordelia he still had the Slayer in the back of his mind. And poor Willow. . . she just wanted Xander to notice her as more then a friend.
"If you makes you feel better, I'll say no." Buffy supplied, and Willow looked up from where she had been tracing the designs on Buffy's bed.
"I know. . . I mean, if you wanted to you could, but I just wish. . ." The red head stumbled off sadly.
Buffy wished she could tell Willow about Oz, and that there was someone at there for her. Forgetting her earlier pondering about setting up Willow and Xander, she wondered if the soon to be witch and werewolf hadn't had that falling out, if Willow would have turned gay.
Rationalizing that was still a ways off, she changed the subject again to a safer topic.
~ ~ ~
Her eighth day on the mend, Buffy peeked at the wound and was delighted to see that it was nearly healed. The pain that had plagued her had nearly disappeared unless she tried something to physically strenuous. So when her mother left for work that day, Buffy got dressed and slid a stake into her waist band out of habit before heading toward Angels.
The sun was out strong and as she felt much better now that she was outside. She took the walk slow, trying to think of exactly what she would say to Angel. "Oh hey, thanks for saving my life and you know, I love you, or at least I did and I think we should give it a go." Just seemed to blunt.
She reached the apartment and paused to sort her thoughts before she knocked. Voices were filtering from under the door, and Buffy pressed her ear against the surface to listen.
"You and I both know what you hunger for. What you need. Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's who we are. It's what makes eternal life worth living. Mm. You can only suppress your real nature for so long. You can feel it brewing inside of you. I hope I'm around when it explodes."
Buffy didn't recognize the voice, but she knew Angel's when he growled that she didn't want to be.
There was pause. "I'm not afraid of you. I bet she is, though. Or maybe I'm underestimating her. Talk to her. Tell her about the curse. Maybe she'll come around. And if she still doesn't trust you, you know where I'll be."
Darla. The voice was Darla.
Forgetting the wound, she pushed the door open and stumbled into the apartment. Darla stood just feet away from her, amused by the intrusion. Angel just looked angry.
Realizing that her act had been on impulse rather then logic, Buffy swallowed hard. She didn't have the strength to fight a vampire as strong as Darla, and it didn't look as if Angel would help her.
"The Slayer." The female vampire hissed, sizing her up with her eyes.
Buffy glared at her, hands itching to go for the stake secured at her waistband, but she waited. No need to make the first move.
"Do you know what the saddest thing in the world is?" She continued as idly, casting a glance back toward Angel who stood still in the shadows.
The Slayer kept silent.
Darla walked around the other blonde. "To love someone who used to love you."
The darkness in the room seemed suffocating as silence descended. And then, Buffy laughed. "No, it's loving someone who you can't have." The Slayer finally whipped the stake out and held it in her hand for both vampires to see. "And it's not sad, it's just love."
Darla growled and her features changed into her true form. She was about to attack, and Buffy didn't know what to do, she was in no condition to fight. Before the vampire had a chance to lunge, Angel growled and launched himself at Darla, sending them both sprawling to the floor.
The Slayer retreated back to give the vampires room. She felt useless standing there as they wrestled on the ground, holding the stake limply in her hand.
Angel had got the upper hand and straddled Darla, keeping her wrists pinned in one hand above her head.
Darla just smiled up at him. "Your hurting me, that's good."
The male vampire growled ferociously and took one of her arms, bending it backwards. She screeched as the bone snapped and Angel climbed off of her. Darla struggled to her feet, clutching her broken arm.
"I don't know what you are anymore Angel." She said low, hurt laced in her words. Her eyes went traveled to Buffy, where she still stood silent. "You can have him girl." The words were spit out harshly, and she ran out of the apartment in vampire speed.
Angel was back in the shadows, breathing heavily. Buffy stepped closer to him. "You didn't kill her."
He looked up at her, and it was then that she realized he was in game face. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to say thanks, for saving my life." She said with more determination then she knew she had. "I came to talk about things."
"Get out." He growled harshly, fangs reflected in the faint light.
Buffy shook her head and came closer. "We need to talk."
Before the Slayer could realize Angel had slammed her up against the wall, hands digging into her shoulders and eyes level with her. The attack hadn't hurt, was just forceful.
"Every time I see you I want to kiss you." His face still showed his true nature and he took a moment to morph back to his human guise. "You saw me, I'm a vampire, an animal. I'm not safe to be around."
She shook her head slowly and drew a hand up to his cheek. He lessened the pressure on her shoulders, but kept his hands there. "I trust you Angel, isn't that all that matters?"
He turned his face away from her and Buffy let her hand fall back down.
"Go home Buffy."
With a brief nod, she slid away from him and left the apartment without another word. She cast a last glance toward Angel, and wondered how he was always able to blend into the shadows.
~ ~ ~
"Ah, the post fumigation party." Xander sighed, placing his feet on the table. Willow smiled tentatively and Buffy watched as Jesse danced with Kristen, his new girlfriend. It had been a week since she had seen Angel, and the absence didn't make her anxious to see him again. The wound had healed completely a few days ago and her mother had been baffled that she was back to good so quickly. She had told Giles what had happened, but had only given Willow the whole story about her encounter with Angel and Darla.
Xander had never kept up on his promise to ask her ask out, which Buffy was happy for. She was confused enough about Angel without having to risk a friendship falling apart over rejection. Just as she was about to get up for something to drink, she noticed a black coated man push his way through the crowed. Buffy was mesmerized as she watched him and Willow tapped her on the arm.
"Angels here." She whispered apprehensively.
The Slayer nodded slowly and got up to meet him in the middle of the dance floor. They stood, not speaking, Angel's gaze elsewhere.
"I owe you an apology." He said finally, letting his eyes meet her own. "I was, what happened. . ."
"I understand." Buffy gave him a small smile.
The song changed to a slow one and the couples around them moved closer to each other. Before the Slayer could say another word Angel wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her. It took her a moment to realize what had happened, but she quickly relaxed in his embrace. Kissing Angel had always been different then Riley or Spike, or anyone for that matter. She had forgotten how much she missed it as she wrapped an arm around his neck.
They parted slowly and Buffy nodded to him. "You OK?"
"It's painful." He told her, dark eyes brimming with something she hadn't seen in them recently. Maybe it was love.
"Better then nothing at all." She nodded to him and left the dance floor. Angel watched her go, hand coming to where her cross had left a deep burn.