Chapter Eight
Buffy woke up with a massive headache. She felt dizzy and weak. Her wrist hurt. She glanced down. It was swathed in gauze. She sat up slowly. She was on the couch in the hotel lobby. Wes was sitting at the desk immersed in books. He looked up when she sat.
"How do you feel?" He asked.
Buffy shook her head. "How is he?" Her eyes drifted up the stairs to Angel's room.
Wes sighed and rubbed his temple. "I had to tranquilize him, Buffy. I know you didn't want me too but it was a necessity."
Buffy sighed. "Did he attack you?"
"No, he busted his head open on the wall. He wasn't hurting anyone but himself." Wes said.
Buffy nodded. She was pale. Her clothes were still splattered with blood. She started to stand up, a wave of dizziness crashed over her. She sat back down abruptly. "Wes, I have to do something. I don't know why the Powers would allow-"
"Of course!" Wes said jumping to his feet. "Why didn't I think about that before? Too close to the situation I suppose."
"Wanna clue me in?" Buffy asked.
"Of course, pardon me. The Powers that be have conduits, Oracles. Angel contacted them a couple of times before. I don't even know if I could do it honestly. Only a champion of the Powers is allowed to approach them but-"Wes started.
"I'd say the Slayer qualifies as a champion of the Powers. How do I contact them?" Buffy said.
"There's a gate underneath the Post Office." Wes said. "I'll have to find the proper spell but I know it's in a book here somewhere."
"The gateway to the Powers that Be is underneath the Post Office?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, well. It makes sense if you think about it." Wes said flipping through books.
"Whatever. I'm going up to check on Angel. You find the spell. I want to do this tonight." Buffy said. She got up slowly and stood still for a moment. She walked up the stairs through sheer willpower, hanging tightly to the stair railing as she went. She held onto the railing until she got to Angel's door. She transferred her weight to the doorknob of the door, only letting go of the railing when she had a firm grip on the doorknob. She pushed open the door and stagger-stumbled to the bed where Angel was laid out.
She sat down on the bed heavily. She upgraded that to lying on the bed when the dizziness didn't pass. Buffy traced her fingers over Angel's face. She sighed. His mind might be shattered but he was still the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in this world or in heaven. She supposed that was rude or offensive to whatever power resided over Heaven, or maybe not since it was probably the same power that created the beautiful creature lying next to her on the bed.
Buffy turned on her side and snuggled against Angel. In his drugged sleep he was complacent but he still seemed to recognize her presence. His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. Buffy let her eyelids slide closed. Wes would come get her when he'd found the spell, besides she couldn't exactly greet these Oracles if she couldn't stand on her own two feet.
Buffy woke to a high pitched keening noise. She clapped her hands over her ears. Angel was curled up in the corner, rocking and making the noise. She'd never heard anything like it. It was almost the sound of a rabbit or other animal in great pain.
The noise brought Wes to the room. "Good Heavens. What happened?" he asked looking bewildered from Buffy to Angel.
"I fell asleep next to him. I guess he woke up and I scared him?" Buffy offered. She crouched next to Angel and tried to touch him. He jerked away and started banging his head against the wall. There was a blood stain already there from his earlier episode.
"Angel, baby, Angel stop. Honey, I need you to stop." Buffy tried to talk to him in calm comforting tones. He wasn't even using words now just that keening noise and it was obvious Angel was in the room but there was no one there in his mind. "Wes, do something!" She said.
Wes shook his head. "Tranquilizer?" he suggested.
Buffy bit her bottom lip and tears welled in her eyes but she nodded her head. Wes raised the gun and shot Angel squarely in the arm. He shot him again before Angel finally slumped over on the floor.
Buffy swallowed her tears and gathered Angel up under his arms. She lifted but she didn't have the strength, not as weak as she was. A sob caught in her throat. "Wes, help me get him up on the bed."
Once they had Angel securely in bed, Buffy sat down pale and shaky on the edge of the bed. She looked up at Wes. "Did you find the spell?"
Wes nodded. "I did."
Buffy stood, staying on her feet by willpower alone. "Let's go then."
"Buffy, you don't look well. Perhaps we should wait a few hours. You can eat something and take a nap." Wes suggested.
Buffy shook her head. "No, Wes. I want to do this now. Every minute Angel has to live the way he is, is one minute too long."
"Buffy, I really think-"
"Wes, I really don't care." Buffy said as she started walking to the bedroom door.
Wes had no choice but to follow her.
* Wes threw a handful of powder at the brazier. It blazed into life. The gateway glowed with a pure white light.
"You're in." Wes said. He handed her a small jade figurine. "Eighth century Chinese, their tribute."
"Thanks, Wes." Buffy smiled and ran into the light.
She stumbled and caught herself. She glanced around the huge room. There was a hallway that stretched to literal infinity in front of her. Two beings came down this hallway. Their skin was an odd metallic color. They had bluish green swirls painted all over it. They wore deep blue togas. There was male and a female. The female spoke first.
"Greetings Lower Being." She said.
Buffy arched her eyebrow at the female. "Excuse me, I have a name. It's Buffy, the vampire slayer and you are?"
"My name is inconsequential. I am an oracle for the Powers that be." The female said.
"What have you brought us?" The male said.
"Ooo, so you do want the shiny new present I brought you." Buffy said as she tossed it up in the air. The male snatched it out of the air with a tiny motion of his fingers.
"Ok, so it's time to get down to business." Buffy said. "I want you to fix Angel."
The female chuckled. "Angel, the vampire with a soul."
"The one and only, warrior for the Powers that Be, champion of light. The visions are driving him insane. They are shattering his mind. Wes says you have the power to make this right so make it right." Buffy said.
"It is not our concern." The female said.
"Not your concern? How the hell can it not be your concern? You gave him the visions take them back." Buffy yelled.
"How dare you speak to us so." The male said. He flicked his wrist and sent Buffy flying against the marble wall. She hit her head with a loud thunk and fell to the floor. Buffy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The room swam before her. She struggled to her feet. She swayed for a second before getting her balance back.
"Okay, rude much? I had this whole thing where I lost a lot of blood today, could we avoid slinging me across the room?" Buffy said.
"You have no respect for higher beings." The male's voice was cold and hard.
"I have no respect for anyone who would do something like what you've done to Angel. It's killing him." Buffy said.
The female shrugged. "When one seer dies, another is sent. You should understand this concept."
Buffy stared at the Oracle in disbelief. "He's-Angel is-he's immortal. His soul is so good and so pure and-he's not just a seer. He's a warrior for the powers that be. He's got the capacity for so much good. Why did you save him that Christmas morning if you were just going to do this to him? This can not be his great destiny."
"These are the burdens we must bear." The female oracle said.
"No! I refuse to accept that you're just going to let him die." Buffy said.
"As you said, he is immortal. The visions will not kill him." The male said.
"The visions might not kill him but what about the stake he shoves through his heart because they are driving him insane?" Buffy yelled.
"Then he is not strong enough to bear the burden, again this is not our concern. When he dies the visions will pass to another." The female said.
"No!" Buffy screamed at the top of her lungs. The sound echoed in the cavernous room. She took a deep breath. "If you loose him, you loose a great warrior for your cause. There might be another seer but he's the only vampire with a soul."
"And who would you have take on the visions? Will you pick up that burden for him?" The female asked.
"Yes," Buffy said without hesitation.
"Even if it kills you?" The female said.
"You really don't know much about Angel and I if you think something as minor as my death is going to keep me from saving him. I would give my life if it meant he had one more minute on this earth. Give me the visions already." Buffy said.
The female looked at the male. He rolled his eyes and turned the other way. The female turned back to Buffy. "You are needed elsewhere. The Powers have not divided the two of you simply for amusement."
Buffy laughed. It came out a gruff, harsh bark. "Well that's good to know because I was actually beginning to wonder."
"You will have your reward in the end mortal." The female said.
"Yeah, I know going to Heaven. Been there done that and hey do you think I could get a tee shirt because you know not everyone can make that claim." Buffy said.
The female looked her up and down. She cocked her head and smiled. "He has not told you. When you return ask the Watcher about the prophecy and the reward. We will send him another seer. You must return to where you are needed." The female waved her hand and threw Buffy back through the door. She rolled, coming to a stop inside the cave beneath the post office. She sat up with a groan and rubbed her head.
"I'm beginning to think stamping Fragile on my forehead might not be such a bad idea." Buffy said.
Wes offered his hand and helped Buffy to her feet. She was woozy. He caught her under the arm. She leaned against him. "How did it go?" Wes asked.
"They are supposed to send him a seer. They'll take the visions." Buffy said. It came out a mere whisper, weak and shaky.
Buffy woke up with a massive headache. She felt dizzy and weak. Her wrist hurt. She glanced down. It was swathed in gauze. She sat up slowly. She was on the couch in the hotel lobby. Wes was sitting at the desk immersed in books. He looked up when she sat.
"How do you feel?" He asked.
Buffy shook her head. "How is he?" Her eyes drifted up the stairs to Angel's room.
Wes sighed and rubbed his temple. "I had to tranquilize him, Buffy. I know you didn't want me too but it was a necessity."
Buffy sighed. "Did he attack you?"
"No, he busted his head open on the wall. He wasn't hurting anyone but himself." Wes said.
Buffy nodded. She was pale. Her clothes were still splattered with blood. She started to stand up, a wave of dizziness crashed over her. She sat back down abruptly. "Wes, I have to do something. I don't know why the Powers would allow-"
"Of course!" Wes said jumping to his feet. "Why didn't I think about that before? Too close to the situation I suppose."
"Wanna clue me in?" Buffy asked.
"Of course, pardon me. The Powers that be have conduits, Oracles. Angel contacted them a couple of times before. I don't even know if I could do it honestly. Only a champion of the Powers is allowed to approach them but-"Wes started.
"I'd say the Slayer qualifies as a champion of the Powers. How do I contact them?" Buffy said.
"There's a gate underneath the Post Office." Wes said. "I'll have to find the proper spell but I know it's in a book here somewhere."
"The gateway to the Powers that Be is underneath the Post Office?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, well. It makes sense if you think about it." Wes said flipping through books.
"Whatever. I'm going up to check on Angel. You find the spell. I want to do this tonight." Buffy said. She got up slowly and stood still for a moment. She walked up the stairs through sheer willpower, hanging tightly to the stair railing as she went. She held onto the railing until she got to Angel's door. She transferred her weight to the doorknob of the door, only letting go of the railing when she had a firm grip on the doorknob. She pushed open the door and stagger-stumbled to the bed where Angel was laid out.
She sat down on the bed heavily. She upgraded that to lying on the bed when the dizziness didn't pass. Buffy traced her fingers over Angel's face. She sighed. His mind might be shattered but he was still the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in this world or in heaven. She supposed that was rude or offensive to whatever power resided over Heaven, or maybe not since it was probably the same power that created the beautiful creature lying next to her on the bed.
Buffy turned on her side and snuggled against Angel. In his drugged sleep he was complacent but he still seemed to recognize her presence. His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. Buffy let her eyelids slide closed. Wes would come get her when he'd found the spell, besides she couldn't exactly greet these Oracles if she couldn't stand on her own two feet.
Buffy woke to a high pitched keening noise. She clapped her hands over her ears. Angel was curled up in the corner, rocking and making the noise. She'd never heard anything like it. It was almost the sound of a rabbit or other animal in great pain.
The noise brought Wes to the room. "Good Heavens. What happened?" he asked looking bewildered from Buffy to Angel.
"I fell asleep next to him. I guess he woke up and I scared him?" Buffy offered. She crouched next to Angel and tried to touch him. He jerked away and started banging his head against the wall. There was a blood stain already there from his earlier episode.
"Angel, baby, Angel stop. Honey, I need you to stop." Buffy tried to talk to him in calm comforting tones. He wasn't even using words now just that keening noise and it was obvious Angel was in the room but there was no one there in his mind. "Wes, do something!" She said.
Wes shook his head. "Tranquilizer?" he suggested.
Buffy bit her bottom lip and tears welled in her eyes but she nodded her head. Wes raised the gun and shot Angel squarely in the arm. He shot him again before Angel finally slumped over on the floor.
Buffy swallowed her tears and gathered Angel up under his arms. She lifted but she didn't have the strength, not as weak as she was. A sob caught in her throat. "Wes, help me get him up on the bed."
Once they had Angel securely in bed, Buffy sat down pale and shaky on the edge of the bed. She looked up at Wes. "Did you find the spell?"
Wes nodded. "I did."
Buffy stood, staying on her feet by willpower alone. "Let's go then."
"Buffy, you don't look well. Perhaps we should wait a few hours. You can eat something and take a nap." Wes suggested.
Buffy shook her head. "No, Wes. I want to do this now. Every minute Angel has to live the way he is, is one minute too long."
"Buffy, I really think-"
"Wes, I really don't care." Buffy said as she started walking to the bedroom door.
Wes had no choice but to follow her.
* Wes threw a handful of powder at the brazier. It blazed into life. The gateway glowed with a pure white light.
"You're in." Wes said. He handed her a small jade figurine. "Eighth century Chinese, their tribute."
"Thanks, Wes." Buffy smiled and ran into the light.
She stumbled and caught herself. She glanced around the huge room. There was a hallway that stretched to literal infinity in front of her. Two beings came down this hallway. Their skin was an odd metallic color. They had bluish green swirls painted all over it. They wore deep blue togas. There was male and a female. The female spoke first.
"Greetings Lower Being." She said.
Buffy arched her eyebrow at the female. "Excuse me, I have a name. It's Buffy, the vampire slayer and you are?"
"My name is inconsequential. I am an oracle for the Powers that be." The female said.
"What have you brought us?" The male said.
"Ooo, so you do want the shiny new present I brought you." Buffy said as she tossed it up in the air. The male snatched it out of the air with a tiny motion of his fingers.
"Ok, so it's time to get down to business." Buffy said. "I want you to fix Angel."
The female chuckled. "Angel, the vampire with a soul."
"The one and only, warrior for the Powers that Be, champion of light. The visions are driving him insane. They are shattering his mind. Wes says you have the power to make this right so make it right." Buffy said.
"It is not our concern." The female said.
"Not your concern? How the hell can it not be your concern? You gave him the visions take them back." Buffy yelled.
"How dare you speak to us so." The male said. He flicked his wrist and sent Buffy flying against the marble wall. She hit her head with a loud thunk and fell to the floor. Buffy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The room swam before her. She struggled to her feet. She swayed for a second before getting her balance back.
"Okay, rude much? I had this whole thing where I lost a lot of blood today, could we avoid slinging me across the room?" Buffy said.
"You have no respect for higher beings." The male's voice was cold and hard.
"I have no respect for anyone who would do something like what you've done to Angel. It's killing him." Buffy said.
The female shrugged. "When one seer dies, another is sent. You should understand this concept."
Buffy stared at the Oracle in disbelief. "He's-Angel is-he's immortal. His soul is so good and so pure and-he's not just a seer. He's a warrior for the powers that be. He's got the capacity for so much good. Why did you save him that Christmas morning if you were just going to do this to him? This can not be his great destiny."
"These are the burdens we must bear." The female oracle said.
"No! I refuse to accept that you're just going to let him die." Buffy said.
"As you said, he is immortal. The visions will not kill him." The male said.
"The visions might not kill him but what about the stake he shoves through his heart because they are driving him insane?" Buffy yelled.
"Then he is not strong enough to bear the burden, again this is not our concern. When he dies the visions will pass to another." The female said.
"No!" Buffy screamed at the top of her lungs. The sound echoed in the cavernous room. She took a deep breath. "If you loose him, you loose a great warrior for your cause. There might be another seer but he's the only vampire with a soul."
"And who would you have take on the visions? Will you pick up that burden for him?" The female asked.
"Yes," Buffy said without hesitation.
"Even if it kills you?" The female said.
"You really don't know much about Angel and I if you think something as minor as my death is going to keep me from saving him. I would give my life if it meant he had one more minute on this earth. Give me the visions already." Buffy said.
The female looked at the male. He rolled his eyes and turned the other way. The female turned back to Buffy. "You are needed elsewhere. The Powers have not divided the two of you simply for amusement."
Buffy laughed. It came out a gruff, harsh bark. "Well that's good to know because I was actually beginning to wonder."
"You will have your reward in the end mortal." The female said.
"Yeah, I know going to Heaven. Been there done that and hey do you think I could get a tee shirt because you know not everyone can make that claim." Buffy said.
The female looked her up and down. She cocked her head and smiled. "He has not told you. When you return ask the Watcher about the prophecy and the reward. We will send him another seer. You must return to where you are needed." The female waved her hand and threw Buffy back through the door. She rolled, coming to a stop inside the cave beneath the post office. She sat up with a groan and rubbed her head.
"I'm beginning to think stamping Fragile on my forehead might not be such a bad idea." Buffy said.
Wes offered his hand and helped Buffy to her feet. She was woozy. He caught her under the arm. She leaned against him. "How did it go?" Wes asked.
"They are supposed to send him a seer. They'll take the visions." Buffy said. It came out a mere whisper, weak and shaky.