Chapter 3

Angel got off of the phone and looked at Wesley. "Willow said she would be here tomorrow, she knows about what happened to Buffy and she wants to help. Did you get Illyria out of Wolfram and Hart?" Wesley nodded.

"Yes, I moved her somewhere safe for right now and I have Lorne and Gunn watching over her. I'm sure Buffy wouldn't be able to find her, but I don't know how long that would last." Angel agreed.

"It's good enough for right now." Wesley then thought of something and didn't know how Angel would take it.

"I was thinking about what Buffy said. She seems to be certain that she has a way to take Illyria out of Fred. Perhaps we should consider taking her up on her offer, we could get Fred back." Angel shook his head.

"I want Fred back as much as you do, but not at the cost of Buffy's life. I'm sorry, Wesley." Wesley sighed and looked at Angel.

"You see what she has become, Angel. She said so herself that she doesn't want to be here anymore. I don't want Buffy to die either, but she seems to want it. Fred doesn't deserve this." Angel then glared at Wesley.

"Buffy doesn't deserve this either. She's grieving and she doesn't know how to deal with it. I'm sure what happened to her wasn't her fault and Willow may be the only one that can help her. I'm not going to give up on her, Wesley." Wesley rubbed his face and took in what Angel said.

"I know you want to help her, but I'm not even sure she can be helped. She has taken a human life and it seems that there has been more than one. It's very difficult to come back from that and some people never do." Angel crossed his arms over his chest.

"Faith did. So did Willow along with me and Spike. If anyone can get through this it's Buffy. She's the strongest one out of all of us." Wesley let out the breath he was holding.

"You still love her?" Angel's expression softened when he asked that.

"I will always love her. I can't lose her, Wesley. I'm sorry about Fred. She was important to all of us, but I can't lose Buffy." Wesley nodded and then looked at him.

"Alright, what do you suppose we do?" Angel dropped his hands back to his side.

"First we have to find her." The door to the office then opened and Spike walked in carrying a still unconscious Buffy.

"Already taken care of, mate." He said as he lay Buffy down on the couch.

"What happened?" Angel asked as he went to Buffy's side.

"There was a fight and I had to knock her out. She should be fine." Spike told them.

"These ropes won't be able to hold her very well when she wakes up." Angel said and he looked at Wesley.

"We could put her in the cage that holds Nina every month. Just until Willow shows up." Wesley said and Angel nodded as he picked up Buffy and walked to the door.

"So, I take it you got a hold of Red." Spike said and Wesley nodded.

"Yes, she should be arriving tomorrow. Hopefully she would be able to help." Spike agreed.

"Hopefully, because I can't lose her either." He said as he looked at Wesley letting him know that he heard their conversation. Wesley didn't say anything as they followed Angel out of the office.