Disclaimer: None of the BTVS characters are mine. I make nothing off of
them.
"I'm just guessing here, but don't you think she's a little confused? Cause we're standing here and um, she's obviously not a vampire. See?" Xander quickly grabbed hold of her wrist "Pulse. A weak one, but still a pulse."
"Yes, Xander we see." Giles reassured everyone that indeed Buffy was alive and well. " We have to take what we know of the situation and work something out."
"Wait." Angel's words were hurried and everyone immediately turned to face him. How like him to take advantage of the situation. "Why can't we do some sort of spell?"
"Do you honestly not think that we've thought of that? Because I'm pretty sure we've been through every possible scenario here and nothing seems to appear that it will work." Xander speaks up and for once I'm actually happy to hear his input. "God I wish she'd just wake up."
"Yeah that seems to be helping."
"I don't see your being here making a huge difference. You think you're all important but you're really not. Whoever said you needed to be called needs to be shot."
"Amen to that."
"What are you agreeing to? I was bashing you too."
"Hey, as long as Spike's out of the picture you can bash me all you want."
I had been patiently waiting, sitting quietly watching Buffy's chest rise and fall in an uneven rhythm trying to block out the ridiculous banter slowly enveloping the group. Maybe calling Angel had been a mistake; maybe even telling him about Buffy had been a mistake. Too late now, maybe if he'd stop fighting and start trying to figure out a way to get Buffy back we'd be better off. I feel guilty enough over the fact that I most likely am the cause of her current predicament. I don't need to hear about how much trouble I'm causing the rest of them. Besides, no wonder Buffy doesn't want to wake up. I wouldn't want to wake up to this either. Finally I have enough of the squabbling and jump to my feet.
"You..." I point at Harris "Sit the fuck down. And you..." I turn to Angel "do something. I didn't call you here to argue with everyone. I called you here to help her and that's what you're going to do. Somehow you're the link between her world and ours and you're going to find out how and why and what to do to bring her back. I don't care if it takes ten minutes and I don't care if it takes ten hours or ten years. Now sit down and shut up the both of you. And you Angelus are going to keep talking to her. And because you and I seem to be the only ones that she's responding to we're going to stay right here, the rest of the group is going to leave the room and vacate to the kitchen. No discussion, now go!"
For once Angel has nothing to say and I smile to myself that I finally got the last word in. I look at him and can see the rage settled on his features, but he's keeping it inside and I can't be grateful enough. Years ago an outburst like that would never have been tolerated and most likely I would have received a strong beating because of it.
"Thanks..." is the first word from his mouth minutes later and I can't help but gape at him. "Not for the yelling necessarily, but for reminding me what I'm here for. Nothing is worth risking Buffy's life. Nothing."
I nod but cannot find the words to reply. Even if I could speak what would I say? It's quiet now without the group hanging over our shoulders. I can hear each breath the Slayer takes, each sigh she gives, every noise she makes. Both of us are unsure as to what steps to take even though I'm the first one to speak to her. "Buffy, it's Spike, we don't know how to help." I take her hand in mine "Show me how to help you."
She doesn't say anything even though I hold her tightly willing her to answer me this one time. Especially in front of Angel. How I would love to show him up just this once. But then again, I really shouldn't expect much should I? I'm not the one she needs now. I'm not her link to this life and it kills me inside. It burns me not to be the one that can reach her.
"Spike." I'm pulled from my self-destructive thoughts by Angel's voice in my ear. "Something's happening."
I immediately notice the change. Her color has returned and her pulse is once again strong. I can hear the blood pounding forcefully throughout her body. Something is happening but yet at the same time, nothing has changed. She's still as unconscious as she was minutes ago. Before I can react his arms are around her, holding her still body close against his chest. Holding her close to him. I try not to notice the smiles spread across both of their faces although it's impossible not to. It's almost as if she's holding onto him as well. I clench my jaw, jealous of her reaction to him. Wanting to crush him here and now but knowing that I cannot if I want her back. I find myself furious. I watch a still unconscious Buffy, wondering what it will take to get her back to me.
"Buffy, it's me, Angel. I need you again, I need you with me." I know this is no song and dance. He means these words. "I messed up, I did, but that was a long time ago and I've had so much time to think about us. You need to come back to me; I need you to show me how I can help you. You need to show me how to get you back. I love you Buffy, I always have, always will."
Suddenly a bright light, a blue neon light throughout the room, surrounding the two of them. I rush forward but am thrown back from it with such force that I hit a wall across the room. Immediately everyone I'd banished to the kitchen have returned. I lift myself from the floor, and wander immediately back to where Buffy and Angel remain enveloped in blue light, holding each other tightly. Only this time I see that Buffy is no longer unconscious, but wide-eyed and awake. She catches my eyes and once again I charge the light only to find that this time I pass right through it. Catching Angel's arm as I pass, I pull the two out of the glow and onto the floor. Immediately the house begins to shake, the light screaming in its own strange way. Things begin to fall from the walls and shelves and as quickly as it started it is finished. The light vanishes and the room returns to dark.
"What the hell was that?" Someone inquires but I have no idea whom, immediately I am by Buffy's side brushing the hair from her face, searching for any sign that she's not okay. For the first time in months she seems distant, hard to read.
"Hey guys," she jumps up from the carpet pulling Angel behind her. "What's happening? Is there a reason everybody's hanging out on the floor? Some new trend I don't know about?"
"Buffy luv, don't you remember anything?" I ask. Something is strange but I can't quite place it until I notice that she's still holding Angel's hand. I rush forward and push him roughly. "What the hell did you do?"
I fist to the face is what I receive and not from the person I was expecting.
"You touch my boyfriend again and you'll get more than a fist to the face."
I back up immediately, scanning the faces of everyone in the group. There isn't a face that isn't shocked and I can see why. Her Boyfriend? Angel isn't her boyfriend and hasn't been for years. Buffy's awake yes, but she surely isn't back. Something has gone seriously wrong. And here we thought we had problems before. Apparently not.
"I'm just guessing here, but don't you think she's a little confused? Cause we're standing here and um, she's obviously not a vampire. See?" Xander quickly grabbed hold of her wrist "Pulse. A weak one, but still a pulse."
"Yes, Xander we see." Giles reassured everyone that indeed Buffy was alive and well. " We have to take what we know of the situation and work something out."
"Wait." Angel's words were hurried and everyone immediately turned to face him. How like him to take advantage of the situation. "Why can't we do some sort of spell?"
"Do you honestly not think that we've thought of that? Because I'm pretty sure we've been through every possible scenario here and nothing seems to appear that it will work." Xander speaks up and for once I'm actually happy to hear his input. "God I wish she'd just wake up."
"Yeah that seems to be helping."
"I don't see your being here making a huge difference. You think you're all important but you're really not. Whoever said you needed to be called needs to be shot."
"Amen to that."
"What are you agreeing to? I was bashing you too."
"Hey, as long as Spike's out of the picture you can bash me all you want."
I had been patiently waiting, sitting quietly watching Buffy's chest rise and fall in an uneven rhythm trying to block out the ridiculous banter slowly enveloping the group. Maybe calling Angel had been a mistake; maybe even telling him about Buffy had been a mistake. Too late now, maybe if he'd stop fighting and start trying to figure out a way to get Buffy back we'd be better off. I feel guilty enough over the fact that I most likely am the cause of her current predicament. I don't need to hear about how much trouble I'm causing the rest of them. Besides, no wonder Buffy doesn't want to wake up. I wouldn't want to wake up to this either. Finally I have enough of the squabbling and jump to my feet.
"You..." I point at Harris "Sit the fuck down. And you..." I turn to Angel "do something. I didn't call you here to argue with everyone. I called you here to help her and that's what you're going to do. Somehow you're the link between her world and ours and you're going to find out how and why and what to do to bring her back. I don't care if it takes ten minutes and I don't care if it takes ten hours or ten years. Now sit down and shut up the both of you. And you Angelus are going to keep talking to her. And because you and I seem to be the only ones that she's responding to we're going to stay right here, the rest of the group is going to leave the room and vacate to the kitchen. No discussion, now go!"
For once Angel has nothing to say and I smile to myself that I finally got the last word in. I look at him and can see the rage settled on his features, but he's keeping it inside and I can't be grateful enough. Years ago an outburst like that would never have been tolerated and most likely I would have received a strong beating because of it.
"Thanks..." is the first word from his mouth minutes later and I can't help but gape at him. "Not for the yelling necessarily, but for reminding me what I'm here for. Nothing is worth risking Buffy's life. Nothing."
I nod but cannot find the words to reply. Even if I could speak what would I say? It's quiet now without the group hanging over our shoulders. I can hear each breath the Slayer takes, each sigh she gives, every noise she makes. Both of us are unsure as to what steps to take even though I'm the first one to speak to her. "Buffy, it's Spike, we don't know how to help." I take her hand in mine "Show me how to help you."
She doesn't say anything even though I hold her tightly willing her to answer me this one time. Especially in front of Angel. How I would love to show him up just this once. But then again, I really shouldn't expect much should I? I'm not the one she needs now. I'm not her link to this life and it kills me inside. It burns me not to be the one that can reach her.
"Spike." I'm pulled from my self-destructive thoughts by Angel's voice in my ear. "Something's happening."
I immediately notice the change. Her color has returned and her pulse is once again strong. I can hear the blood pounding forcefully throughout her body. Something is happening but yet at the same time, nothing has changed. She's still as unconscious as she was minutes ago. Before I can react his arms are around her, holding her still body close against his chest. Holding her close to him. I try not to notice the smiles spread across both of their faces although it's impossible not to. It's almost as if she's holding onto him as well. I clench my jaw, jealous of her reaction to him. Wanting to crush him here and now but knowing that I cannot if I want her back. I find myself furious. I watch a still unconscious Buffy, wondering what it will take to get her back to me.
"Buffy, it's me, Angel. I need you again, I need you with me." I know this is no song and dance. He means these words. "I messed up, I did, but that was a long time ago and I've had so much time to think about us. You need to come back to me; I need you to show me how I can help you. You need to show me how to get you back. I love you Buffy, I always have, always will."
Suddenly a bright light, a blue neon light throughout the room, surrounding the two of them. I rush forward but am thrown back from it with such force that I hit a wall across the room. Immediately everyone I'd banished to the kitchen have returned. I lift myself from the floor, and wander immediately back to where Buffy and Angel remain enveloped in blue light, holding each other tightly. Only this time I see that Buffy is no longer unconscious, but wide-eyed and awake. She catches my eyes and once again I charge the light only to find that this time I pass right through it. Catching Angel's arm as I pass, I pull the two out of the glow and onto the floor. Immediately the house begins to shake, the light screaming in its own strange way. Things begin to fall from the walls and shelves and as quickly as it started it is finished. The light vanishes and the room returns to dark.
"What the hell was that?" Someone inquires but I have no idea whom, immediately I am by Buffy's side brushing the hair from her face, searching for any sign that she's not okay. For the first time in months she seems distant, hard to read.
"Hey guys," she jumps up from the carpet pulling Angel behind her. "What's happening? Is there a reason everybody's hanging out on the floor? Some new trend I don't know about?"
"Buffy luv, don't you remember anything?" I ask. Something is strange but I can't quite place it until I notice that she's still holding Angel's hand. I rush forward and push him roughly. "What the hell did you do?"
I fist to the face is what I receive and not from the person I was expecting.
"You touch my boyfriend again and you'll get more than a fist to the face."
I back up immediately, scanning the faces of everyone in the group. There isn't a face that isn't shocked and I can see why. Her Boyfriend? Angel isn't her boyfriend and hasn't been for years. Buffy's awake yes, but she surely isn't back. Something has gone seriously wrong. And here we thought we had problems before. Apparently not.