Chapter 7
The next morning, Angel slipped quietly out of bed and made sure Dawn was up and getting ready for school. Buffy was sound asleep. She'd slept right through the alarm. Angel decided she must be tired, so he let her sleep. He went to the office and down to where Nina was being held. He unlocked the door and walked in.
"What.. who are you?" Nina asked.
"It's ok. My name's Angel. You're safe now."
"Safe? Oh. Well.. great. That's.." She made a run for it, but Angel grabbed her. "Get off me! Let go of me! Help me, somebody!"
"What I'm trying to do, Nina, is help you."
"Said the psycho rapist. How do you know my name? What do you want with me?"
"I just want you to see something." After a minute, he led her up to the office and opened a laptop. She watched the screen where a video of a werewolf pacing inside a cage played.
"I don't.. What am I supposed to be looking.. God, what is that?" Nina asked.
"You don't remember?"
"Remember?"
"2 nights ago.. You were attacked.. in the woods. You were jogging."
"Jogging. Wait. Yeah. I remember that I.. that thing attacked me."
"Not exactly. My wife and I were in the area, we heard screams, but by the time we got there.."
"That was you. Yeah, I remember you.. And your wife. You guys saved me."
"We were too late." On the video, the werewolf collapsed on the floor of the cage and transformed back into human form. Into Nina's form.
"Oh my God."
"It was a werewolf, Nina, and you were bitten."
"No. This is.. insane."
"The bite already started a process. You may have already started to feel the effects: Distorted vision, heightened senses."
"Blood. Jill, my sister, she was cooking meat. Oh my God. I.. I smelled the blood. It was making me.. Oh, God, Amanda, my niece."
"She's ok, and so's your sister."
"No, you don't get it."
"Nina, it's ok."
"No, it's not!"
"You didn't.."
"I wanted to rip her throat out!"
"It wasn't you. It was that thing inside."
"Oh, like there's a difference?"
"There is, a big one. I know this is a lot to take.."
"Don't tell me what you know. You didn't wake up and find out you're a.. monster. You don't know anything."
"I'm not a werewolf like you, but I.. I know what it's like. I'm a monster, too."
"So.. what? You're like a Frankenstein?"
"What? No!" Angel rubbed his forehead. "I'm.. I'm a vampire."
"Vampire?" Nina sighed. "And you're.. wife. Is she a.."
"Vampire Slayer."
Nina snorted. "Well, isn't that ironic?"
"You have no idea." Nina stared at him. "We're different. I have a soul. I'm.. I'm not evil, and neither are you."
"But vampires kill people, and they.."
"Can control themselves if they want to. I do it every day, and so can you. I'll help. Buffy and I both will."
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" Nina let out a light laugh. "Can you.. cure me?"
"No. But we can keep you safe."
Later that day, Fred took Nina back to her house to get some of her things to help calm her down. Buffy still hadn't come in yet and Angel had sent Lorne to check on her. Gunn sat behind his desk holding a paper while Angel signed it. Angel sat down in the chair beside Gunn's desk and stared off into the distance.
"You sign this, we're all set to turn McManus' body over to his family. They've made arrangements to transport his body back to.. the North Pole. Turns out he had a close personal relationship with Santa. Angel?"
"What? Uh, I'm with you. Turning over the.. Santa?"
"Angel, you saved that girl's life. If you hadn't gotten there when you did.."
"The werewolf would've killed her. I know. Doesn't change what she's gonna have to go through."
"Well, that part sucks, no doubt, but.. you did everything you could."
"You know what, Gunn? Don't need a pep talk right now. Just do your job."
"Right. I'll just go do that.. someplace else." As Gunn started to leave, Buffy breezed in with Lorne trailing her.
"Whoa! Watch it there! Just passing by and got splashed with a heap of grouchy." Lorne said to Gunn.
"Why didn't you wake me up?!" The Slayer asked her husband. "It's past noon!"
"You were asleep. I didn't.."
"What've I missed? Where's Nina?"
Angel looked at Lorne and the empath shook his head at Angel and held up his hands. He looked back at Buffy. "She's with Fred going to get some things of hers."
"Got to tell you, Angelkins, that extra weight is not looking so good on you." Lorne said. Angel looked down at his belly. "I'm talking about psychic pounds, pumpkin. Why don't you consider me the Jenny Craig for the soul, huh? So let's hear it."
"I'm not gonna sing."
"Couldn't bear it if you did. No, it's talking you need.. or maybe a shoulder to.."
"I'm not gonna cry either."
"I was going to a leaning place. Ok, Atlas, how about a shrug? Look, so you got the weight of the world. It's a burden, sure, but breaking news it ain't."
"Listen, Lorne, this isn't a good time."
"No.. No, it never is. Spike showing up your first day in the Wolfram & Hart saddle after your month long honeymoon took the jolly right out of the ranchers. We've been feeling it ever since, Angelcakes."
"Ok, so it's no secret. I don't like the guy."
"Like him, don't like him.. that's up to you. You're fighting so many enemies around you, Angel, your punches are getting sloppy, and we've got the bruises to prove it. We're operating in unfriendly territory, champ. I don't want you to forget about the people covering your back." Lorne looked at Buffy. "And you're so jumbled right now, I can barely get a reading on you at all."
"Me!? What'd I do?" Buffy asked.
"I'm not clear on that. I'll have to get back to you."
Angel stared at Buffy as Lorne left. She glanced at him, huffed, and walked out.
Fred had come back Nina-less. Some masked ninja wannabes had jumped them and kidnapped her. Lorne was listening to Dr. Royce sing in the conference room. He made a thumbs up sign to Wesley. The ex-Watcher walked back into the office where the others were waiting. "Lorne's read the entire security team already, and the lab staff, as well as half of my department."
"If the kidnappers have someone inside Wolfram & Hart, Lorne'll know." Dawn said.
"What if she was detected somehow before we found her?"
"Yeah, but by who?" Gunn asked.
"The scariest thing was how organized they were, almost military." Fred said.
"An underground monster-hunting military organization?" Buffy asked with a fake chippery tone. "It's happened before."
"It's all my fault. I'm stupid."
"Anything happens to Nina, it's on me." Angel said.
"That's weird. Why don't I just approach the mysteriously ajar door?"
"Stop with the mocking. Get enough of that from blondie bear." Gunn said.
"Spike. Has anyone seen him since.."
"Since he went poof? No." Angel said.
"Uh, but it's been hours. Angel.."
Royce knocked on the door and walked in. Angel turned to look at him. "What do you got?"
"Usual suspects. There's the sacrificers, wackos who want to rid the world of abominations, and werewolf packs looking for new recruits. Then there's the paranormal sporting groups." Royce said.
"I'll be.." Fred ran out of the office.
"Vampire hunting in Eastern Europe. That kind of thing."
"Is anyone else hot?" Buffy asked suddenly. They all turned to look at her. "No, seriously. Is anyone else hot?"
"No." Gunn said. "You look a little pale. You ok?"
"I wish everyone would stop saying that I look pale and then asking if I'm ok. I'm fine. I'm just hot is all."
"Buffy.. You were puking this morning. I think you need to see a doctor." Dawn said. She saw Angel's shocked and worried expression. "Whoops. Wasn't supposed to say that out loud."
"You were sick this morning?" Angel asked.
"Only a little. But it could have been that Chinese food we had the other night. It tasted funky."
"Buffy.."
"I'm good. I'll be over it in a day or so. Let's just get back to.."
"Guys." Fred said, running in. She held up a vial of liquid. "We have a problem."
"Where is she?" Angel asked, slamming Royce against the wall of the office. He had used Calendula to fool Lorne's reading.
"I don't know what you're.." Royce started.
"Wrong answer!" Angel threw Royce against his desk.
"But it's a secret! If I tell you, this man, he's not like you. You're a good guy, but he's a.. well, no offense, but he's scarier than both of you put together."
Angel vamped and leaned in towards Royce. "Wanna bet?" In a long stream of words, Royce let everything he knew out in one breath. Angel knocked him out and then turned to Buffy sitting on the couch. She held her head in her hands and massaged her temples. "Baby?"
"I'm fine. I've just got a headache." Buffy waved one of her hands. "Let's just get there and save her, huh?"
Buffy and Angel walked out of their office. Fred, Wesley, and Gunn walked up to them holding paper they had found in Royce's office. "We know where she is."
"Guys, we found.." Fred handed the paper to Angel. "It's what they plan to do to her."
"It's a menu!" Buffy said.
"Gunn, grab Royce. We'll need him for this." Angel said.
They hurried off to the werewolf eating party in the SUV. Wesley held a gun on Royce as Angel drove like a mad man through LA and into Beverly Hills. They piled out and knocked on the door. A waiter answered it. He opened the small window, and Dr. Royce's face looked back at him. He opened the doors. Gunn knocked out the waiter, and he, Buffy, Angel, Wesley, and Dr. Royce walked into the house.
"I'm all up in the law now, but damn it feels good to get my violence on." Gunn said.
"Crane's not gonna like this." Royce said.
"If I were you, I'd just be hoping the girl's alive." Angel said.
"She has to be, at least through dinner. Once a werewolf dies, it reverts to its human state."
"You mean, to eat werewolf, they got to eat her alive?" Buffy asked.
"Evan, you've brought guests." Crane said to Royce.
"We're just here to pick up a friend." Angel said. Gunn pointed a shotgun at Crane. Buffy knocked out the chef with a silver platter. Angel walked up to Nina, who was lying on a cart, gagged. "Jesus, they garnished you?"
"No, get away! Just let them choke on me." Nina said.
"Listen to me. Tomorrow you're gonna be home." Angel unshackled her.
"This is what I am. I can't go back there, ever. This is better."
"Oh please!" Buffy said, walking up. "There's nothing better about ending up in a doggy bag."
"You must be the wife."
"Hi, nice to meet you. We're getting out of here."
"What, no leprechaun soufflé?" Gunn asked Crane.
"There's no such thing as leprechauns." Crane said.
"I knew I was right!" Buffy said triumphantly. Angel stared at her and she shrugged. Other men with guns snuck up on Wesley and Gunn, pointing cocked weapons at them. "We've hit a snag." Wes said.
"We're not leaving without the girl." Angel said.
"I'm willing to let my men die. Can you say the same?" Crane asked.
"I go, you're going with me." Gunn said.
"It's a risk. What can I say?"
"Probably should've told me to drop this." Angel threw an urn in the air, then sucker punched Crane. Someone shot Angel, knocking him back. Nina turned into a werewolf and growled as she lunged at the guests. She bit a man on the neck, ripping his throat out. Gunn pointed his shotgun at Nina, but hesitated. Nina knocked him to the ground, but before she could attack him, Buffy shot her with a tranquilizer dart. Nina fell to the ground. Gunn let out a sigh of relief. "This is the part where we take our friend and go."
"I'm afraid not. Tonight may not be salvageable, but my guests have paid a high price.. Some higher than others. And I promised them a werewolf."
Nina rolled over suddenly and bit Dr. Royce's leg. He screamed in pain. Buffy smiled cheerily. "And a month from now, you'll have one."
"No. No. Mr. Crane, please. Oh, no! No, please don't do this to me, Mr. Crane! I'm sorry!" Royce cried as Crane's cronies dragged him out of the room. "Mr. Crane, I'm sorry! No! Ohh! Mr. Crane, I'm begging you! No! Mr. Crane! Please! No!"
The next morning, Buffy sat in the passenger's seat of her and Angel's silver Camaro. Nina sat in the back and sighed as they pulled up to her house. Angel put the car in park and looked at her. "This is it."
Nine watched her niece draw in chalk on the sidewalk. "She's a really good artist."
"Oh. Our refrigerator's always available if she's looking to show."
"How do you live with it? Knowing that you've.. killed people?"
"Nina, they were going to eat you for dinner." Buffy said.
"I just wanna wake up. You know?"
"At some point you'll be at the grocery store or with Amanda, and the whole werewolf thing, it'll just be a part of who you are."
"Next you're gonna tell me you actually like being a Vampire Slayer."
"Well, being nearly indestructible is cool."
"I can't tell them."
"Maybe, maybe not." Angel said. "That part's not covered in the manual. They're waiting for you."
"You don't ever think about letting go, disappearing somewhere?"
"Heh. Look, if you separate yourself from the ones you love, the monster wins. Of course my monster tends to stay attached to the one I really love."
"You make it sound simple."
"Well, it's not."
"See you guys next month." Nina got out of the car and walked up to her sister and niece, who gave her a hug. Buffy and Angel watched them together, then drove away.
"Mm, talk about a room with a view." Lorne said, staring out the penthouse window.
"Wow, is that the hotel?" Fred asked.
"Where? No I think that's the Center for Scientology." Wesley said.
"Oh, right. They look nothing alike at all."
"I was starting to think we were never gonna see the inside of this place." Gunn said.
"We're sorry." Buffy said. She and Angel were curled up together on their oversized and overstuffed couch. The Slayer leaned back on Angel's chest. One of his leg's was stretched out behind her while the other hung off the side, his foot resting lightly on the floor. "We probably should've had you guys over sooner, but we're still trying to get used to the place ourselves."
Lorne noticed the bar. "Look at this. I'm home! Hey, cosmos all around?"
"Sounds good." Fred said.
"None for me. Buffy and Angel would kill me." Dawn said.
"Quite luxurious." Wes said.
"Yeah, it's not bad." Angel said.
"Don't mean to talk shop, but Crane's Bistro of the Bizarre..?" Gunn said.
"Out of business. Permanently."
"What if I have a craving for Sasquatch Soup?" Wesley asked playfully.
"Is that something you English eat with your beans on toast?" Buffy asked.
"Mmm, you guys are making me hungry." Fred said. "Who wants Chinese?"
"Long as nothing comes tar-tar, I'm in." Lorne said.
"I'm out." Buffy said.
"You still don't feel good?" Gunn asked.
"Nah. I think I'll just munch on some crackers."
Fred offered Wesley a menu, but he shook his head. "No, I'm too tired to make any decisions."
"Just order the usual, Fred." Dawn said.
"I'm buying." Angel said.
"Ladies and gentlemen, hell just froze over." Buffy said, kissing Angel's neck lightly. He pulled her closer and laid his head on hers.
"We moved, actually, to a law firm." Fred said to the phone. "Uh-huh. Different. No, nice. Ok, um.. one mu shu chicken, two beef and broccolis, one cashew shrimp.. umm maybe some lettuce wraps.."
The next morning, Angel slipped quietly out of bed and made sure Dawn was up and getting ready for school. Buffy was sound asleep. She'd slept right through the alarm. Angel decided she must be tired, so he let her sleep. He went to the office and down to where Nina was being held. He unlocked the door and walked in.
"What.. who are you?" Nina asked.
"It's ok. My name's Angel. You're safe now."
"Safe? Oh. Well.. great. That's.." She made a run for it, but Angel grabbed her. "Get off me! Let go of me! Help me, somebody!"
"What I'm trying to do, Nina, is help you."
"Said the psycho rapist. How do you know my name? What do you want with me?"
"I just want you to see something." After a minute, he led her up to the office and opened a laptop. She watched the screen where a video of a werewolf pacing inside a cage played.
"I don't.. What am I supposed to be looking.. God, what is that?" Nina asked.
"You don't remember?"
"Remember?"
"2 nights ago.. You were attacked.. in the woods. You were jogging."
"Jogging. Wait. Yeah. I remember that I.. that thing attacked me."
"Not exactly. My wife and I were in the area, we heard screams, but by the time we got there.."
"That was you. Yeah, I remember you.. And your wife. You guys saved me."
"We were too late." On the video, the werewolf collapsed on the floor of the cage and transformed back into human form. Into Nina's form.
"Oh my God."
"It was a werewolf, Nina, and you were bitten."
"No. This is.. insane."
"The bite already started a process. You may have already started to feel the effects: Distorted vision, heightened senses."
"Blood. Jill, my sister, she was cooking meat. Oh my God. I.. I smelled the blood. It was making me.. Oh, God, Amanda, my niece."
"She's ok, and so's your sister."
"No, you don't get it."
"Nina, it's ok."
"No, it's not!"
"You didn't.."
"I wanted to rip her throat out!"
"It wasn't you. It was that thing inside."
"Oh, like there's a difference?"
"There is, a big one. I know this is a lot to take.."
"Don't tell me what you know. You didn't wake up and find out you're a.. monster. You don't know anything."
"I'm not a werewolf like you, but I.. I know what it's like. I'm a monster, too."
"So.. what? You're like a Frankenstein?"
"What? No!" Angel rubbed his forehead. "I'm.. I'm a vampire."
"Vampire?" Nina sighed. "And you're.. wife. Is she a.."
"Vampire Slayer."
Nina snorted. "Well, isn't that ironic?"
"You have no idea." Nina stared at him. "We're different. I have a soul. I'm.. I'm not evil, and neither are you."
"But vampires kill people, and they.."
"Can control themselves if they want to. I do it every day, and so can you. I'll help. Buffy and I both will."
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" Nina let out a light laugh. "Can you.. cure me?"
"No. But we can keep you safe."
Later that day, Fred took Nina back to her house to get some of her things to help calm her down. Buffy still hadn't come in yet and Angel had sent Lorne to check on her. Gunn sat behind his desk holding a paper while Angel signed it. Angel sat down in the chair beside Gunn's desk and stared off into the distance.
"You sign this, we're all set to turn McManus' body over to his family. They've made arrangements to transport his body back to.. the North Pole. Turns out he had a close personal relationship with Santa. Angel?"
"What? Uh, I'm with you. Turning over the.. Santa?"
"Angel, you saved that girl's life. If you hadn't gotten there when you did.."
"The werewolf would've killed her. I know. Doesn't change what she's gonna have to go through."
"Well, that part sucks, no doubt, but.. you did everything you could."
"You know what, Gunn? Don't need a pep talk right now. Just do your job."
"Right. I'll just go do that.. someplace else." As Gunn started to leave, Buffy breezed in with Lorne trailing her.
"Whoa! Watch it there! Just passing by and got splashed with a heap of grouchy." Lorne said to Gunn.
"Why didn't you wake me up?!" The Slayer asked her husband. "It's past noon!"
"You were asleep. I didn't.."
"What've I missed? Where's Nina?"
Angel looked at Lorne and the empath shook his head at Angel and held up his hands. He looked back at Buffy. "She's with Fred going to get some things of hers."
"Got to tell you, Angelkins, that extra weight is not looking so good on you." Lorne said. Angel looked down at his belly. "I'm talking about psychic pounds, pumpkin. Why don't you consider me the Jenny Craig for the soul, huh? So let's hear it."
"I'm not gonna sing."
"Couldn't bear it if you did. No, it's talking you need.. or maybe a shoulder to.."
"I'm not gonna cry either."
"I was going to a leaning place. Ok, Atlas, how about a shrug? Look, so you got the weight of the world. It's a burden, sure, but breaking news it ain't."
"Listen, Lorne, this isn't a good time."
"No.. No, it never is. Spike showing up your first day in the Wolfram & Hart saddle after your month long honeymoon took the jolly right out of the ranchers. We've been feeling it ever since, Angelcakes."
"Ok, so it's no secret. I don't like the guy."
"Like him, don't like him.. that's up to you. You're fighting so many enemies around you, Angel, your punches are getting sloppy, and we've got the bruises to prove it. We're operating in unfriendly territory, champ. I don't want you to forget about the people covering your back." Lorne looked at Buffy. "And you're so jumbled right now, I can barely get a reading on you at all."
"Me!? What'd I do?" Buffy asked.
"I'm not clear on that. I'll have to get back to you."
Angel stared at Buffy as Lorne left. She glanced at him, huffed, and walked out.
Fred had come back Nina-less. Some masked ninja wannabes had jumped them and kidnapped her. Lorne was listening to Dr. Royce sing in the conference room. He made a thumbs up sign to Wesley. The ex-Watcher walked back into the office where the others were waiting. "Lorne's read the entire security team already, and the lab staff, as well as half of my department."
"If the kidnappers have someone inside Wolfram & Hart, Lorne'll know." Dawn said.
"What if she was detected somehow before we found her?"
"Yeah, but by who?" Gunn asked.
"The scariest thing was how organized they were, almost military." Fred said.
"An underground monster-hunting military organization?" Buffy asked with a fake chippery tone. "It's happened before."
"It's all my fault. I'm stupid."
"Anything happens to Nina, it's on me." Angel said.
"That's weird. Why don't I just approach the mysteriously ajar door?"
"Stop with the mocking. Get enough of that from blondie bear." Gunn said.
"Spike. Has anyone seen him since.."
"Since he went poof? No." Angel said.
"Uh, but it's been hours. Angel.."
Royce knocked on the door and walked in. Angel turned to look at him. "What do you got?"
"Usual suspects. There's the sacrificers, wackos who want to rid the world of abominations, and werewolf packs looking for new recruits. Then there's the paranormal sporting groups." Royce said.
"I'll be.." Fred ran out of the office.
"Vampire hunting in Eastern Europe. That kind of thing."
"Is anyone else hot?" Buffy asked suddenly. They all turned to look at her. "No, seriously. Is anyone else hot?"
"No." Gunn said. "You look a little pale. You ok?"
"I wish everyone would stop saying that I look pale and then asking if I'm ok. I'm fine. I'm just hot is all."
"Buffy.. You were puking this morning. I think you need to see a doctor." Dawn said. She saw Angel's shocked and worried expression. "Whoops. Wasn't supposed to say that out loud."
"You were sick this morning?" Angel asked.
"Only a little. But it could have been that Chinese food we had the other night. It tasted funky."
"Buffy.."
"I'm good. I'll be over it in a day or so. Let's just get back to.."
"Guys." Fred said, running in. She held up a vial of liquid. "We have a problem."
"Where is she?" Angel asked, slamming Royce against the wall of the office. He had used Calendula to fool Lorne's reading.
"I don't know what you're.." Royce started.
"Wrong answer!" Angel threw Royce against his desk.
"But it's a secret! If I tell you, this man, he's not like you. You're a good guy, but he's a.. well, no offense, but he's scarier than both of you put together."
Angel vamped and leaned in towards Royce. "Wanna bet?" In a long stream of words, Royce let everything he knew out in one breath. Angel knocked him out and then turned to Buffy sitting on the couch. She held her head in her hands and massaged her temples. "Baby?"
"I'm fine. I've just got a headache." Buffy waved one of her hands. "Let's just get there and save her, huh?"
Buffy and Angel walked out of their office. Fred, Wesley, and Gunn walked up to them holding paper they had found in Royce's office. "We know where she is."
"Guys, we found.." Fred handed the paper to Angel. "It's what they plan to do to her."
"It's a menu!" Buffy said.
"Gunn, grab Royce. We'll need him for this." Angel said.
They hurried off to the werewolf eating party in the SUV. Wesley held a gun on Royce as Angel drove like a mad man through LA and into Beverly Hills. They piled out and knocked on the door. A waiter answered it. He opened the small window, and Dr. Royce's face looked back at him. He opened the doors. Gunn knocked out the waiter, and he, Buffy, Angel, Wesley, and Dr. Royce walked into the house.
"I'm all up in the law now, but damn it feels good to get my violence on." Gunn said.
"Crane's not gonna like this." Royce said.
"If I were you, I'd just be hoping the girl's alive." Angel said.
"She has to be, at least through dinner. Once a werewolf dies, it reverts to its human state."
"You mean, to eat werewolf, they got to eat her alive?" Buffy asked.
"Evan, you've brought guests." Crane said to Royce.
"We're just here to pick up a friend." Angel said. Gunn pointed a shotgun at Crane. Buffy knocked out the chef with a silver platter. Angel walked up to Nina, who was lying on a cart, gagged. "Jesus, they garnished you?"
"No, get away! Just let them choke on me." Nina said.
"Listen to me. Tomorrow you're gonna be home." Angel unshackled her.
"This is what I am. I can't go back there, ever. This is better."
"Oh please!" Buffy said, walking up. "There's nothing better about ending up in a doggy bag."
"You must be the wife."
"Hi, nice to meet you. We're getting out of here."
"What, no leprechaun soufflé?" Gunn asked Crane.
"There's no such thing as leprechauns." Crane said.
"I knew I was right!" Buffy said triumphantly. Angel stared at her and she shrugged. Other men with guns snuck up on Wesley and Gunn, pointing cocked weapons at them. "We've hit a snag." Wes said.
"We're not leaving without the girl." Angel said.
"I'm willing to let my men die. Can you say the same?" Crane asked.
"I go, you're going with me." Gunn said.
"It's a risk. What can I say?"
"Probably should've told me to drop this." Angel threw an urn in the air, then sucker punched Crane. Someone shot Angel, knocking him back. Nina turned into a werewolf and growled as she lunged at the guests. She bit a man on the neck, ripping his throat out. Gunn pointed his shotgun at Nina, but hesitated. Nina knocked him to the ground, but before she could attack him, Buffy shot her with a tranquilizer dart. Nina fell to the ground. Gunn let out a sigh of relief. "This is the part where we take our friend and go."
"I'm afraid not. Tonight may not be salvageable, but my guests have paid a high price.. Some higher than others. And I promised them a werewolf."
Nina rolled over suddenly and bit Dr. Royce's leg. He screamed in pain. Buffy smiled cheerily. "And a month from now, you'll have one."
"No. No. Mr. Crane, please. Oh, no! No, please don't do this to me, Mr. Crane! I'm sorry!" Royce cried as Crane's cronies dragged him out of the room. "Mr. Crane, I'm sorry! No! Ohh! Mr. Crane, I'm begging you! No! Mr. Crane! Please! No!"
The next morning, Buffy sat in the passenger's seat of her and Angel's silver Camaro. Nina sat in the back and sighed as they pulled up to her house. Angel put the car in park and looked at her. "This is it."
Nine watched her niece draw in chalk on the sidewalk. "She's a really good artist."
"Oh. Our refrigerator's always available if she's looking to show."
"How do you live with it? Knowing that you've.. killed people?"
"Nina, they were going to eat you for dinner." Buffy said.
"I just wanna wake up. You know?"
"At some point you'll be at the grocery store or with Amanda, and the whole werewolf thing, it'll just be a part of who you are."
"Next you're gonna tell me you actually like being a Vampire Slayer."
"Well, being nearly indestructible is cool."
"I can't tell them."
"Maybe, maybe not." Angel said. "That part's not covered in the manual. They're waiting for you."
"You don't ever think about letting go, disappearing somewhere?"
"Heh. Look, if you separate yourself from the ones you love, the monster wins. Of course my monster tends to stay attached to the one I really love."
"You make it sound simple."
"Well, it's not."
"See you guys next month." Nina got out of the car and walked up to her sister and niece, who gave her a hug. Buffy and Angel watched them together, then drove away.
"Mm, talk about a room with a view." Lorne said, staring out the penthouse window.
"Wow, is that the hotel?" Fred asked.
"Where? No I think that's the Center for Scientology." Wesley said.
"Oh, right. They look nothing alike at all."
"I was starting to think we were never gonna see the inside of this place." Gunn said.
"We're sorry." Buffy said. She and Angel were curled up together on their oversized and overstuffed couch. The Slayer leaned back on Angel's chest. One of his leg's was stretched out behind her while the other hung off the side, his foot resting lightly on the floor. "We probably should've had you guys over sooner, but we're still trying to get used to the place ourselves."
Lorne noticed the bar. "Look at this. I'm home! Hey, cosmos all around?"
"Sounds good." Fred said.
"None for me. Buffy and Angel would kill me." Dawn said.
"Quite luxurious." Wes said.
"Yeah, it's not bad." Angel said.
"Don't mean to talk shop, but Crane's Bistro of the Bizarre..?" Gunn said.
"Out of business. Permanently."
"What if I have a craving for Sasquatch Soup?" Wesley asked playfully.
"Is that something you English eat with your beans on toast?" Buffy asked.
"Mmm, you guys are making me hungry." Fred said. "Who wants Chinese?"
"Long as nothing comes tar-tar, I'm in." Lorne said.
"I'm out." Buffy said.
"You still don't feel good?" Gunn asked.
"Nah. I think I'll just munch on some crackers."
Fred offered Wesley a menu, but he shook his head. "No, I'm too tired to make any decisions."
"Just order the usual, Fred." Dawn said.
"I'm buying." Angel said.
"Ladies and gentlemen, hell just froze over." Buffy said, kissing Angel's neck lightly. He pulled her closer and laid his head on hers.
"We moved, actually, to a law firm." Fred said to the phone. "Uh-huh. Different. No, nice. Ok, um.. one mu shu chicken, two beef and broccolis, one cashew shrimp.. umm maybe some lettuce wraps.."