Chapter 2 - Good News

Half an hour later, I was splashing cold water on my face and trying to prepare myself for the class I was about to teach. I moved along, back on my automatic pilot, but my thoughts stayed with Willow. She had felt a presence around me. Something similar to Spike. It had to be him. He was with me. He was staying just like he always had, right by my side. Even in death he wasn't far from me. I should have known that. Nothing would keep him away from me.

I made it through class and dinner. But after that, everything turned awful. I had this great sense of dread at whatever Angel was bringing as my solution. I was still not sure how I felt about this presence that seemed to be following me and my dinner had definitely not agreed with me.

By eleven-thirty, I was in no shape to greet visitors. I was actually quite occupied with holding my head over the toilet and heaving. I was really afraid that my shoes would be the next thing I would throw up, when I heard a knock on the bedroom door.

" What is it ? " I yelled loudly so I could be heard into the other room and out to the hall. I really wasn't ready to risk moving yet, though the heaving had seemed to pass for the moment.

" Angel's here. " came Dawn's voice. " Are you all right ? "

I pressed my hand to my forehead and attempted a standing position. Once upright, I called, " I'm fine. Tell him I'll be right there. "

I went to the sink, splashed some cold water on my face and brushed my teeth to get the pukey taste out of my mouth. I hate to throw up. Give me a fever and chills, congestion or coughs any day. Just not the pukies. I hate the pukies.

I flipped the light off as I headed out of the room.

I heard voices as I started down the stairs. Angel was telling Dawn how much she had grown since he last saw her. Dawn was telling him about the high school program Robin had set up here at Slayer Central.

I stepped off the last stair and turned towards the foyer where Giles, Dawn, Willow and Angel were standing. Faith was even lurking near the living room door, watching everything from a distance.

Angel turned to me and took me into a warm hug.

" You look like shit. " he whispered into my ear so no one else could hear.

" Wish I could say the same for you, but you look great. " I answered, hugging him back.

I moved in expecting the kiss we usually shared when we came together, but he pulled back and brushed his lips lightly across my cheek.

Strange, I thought. He had never not kissed me before. Oh my God, what if his surprise was that he had found a woman and was in love ? I wasn't sure I could handle seeing Angel happily snuggled up to someone else for however long he was planning to stay. Judging by the suitcase at his feet, it would be an extended visit.

" I have really missed you. " he said, looking at me.

I thought about that for a second, wondering how to answer. Had I missed him lately ? There was a time when I had missed him every day. Not like I missed Spike, but still. There was a point in my life when I thought my world was ending because he wouldn't be in my life anymore. I realized what a child I had been back then and how that feeling didn't compare even remotely to what I was going through now.

I opted for avoidance in a polite way. " It has been a while. " I smiled.

Angel grinned at me. " Have you been sick, you look really pale ? "

I had changed into a pair of low riding blue sweats and a halter top with a cartoon animal on it. My hair was pulled back in a ponytail and I wasn't wearing any sort of make up. I really must have looked a mess considering only minutes ago I was upchucking my dinner.

I tried to smooth my hair back. " I haven't felt all that great today. " I admitted.

" I hope you aren't coming down with something. " he said, reaching out to touch my cheek.

Then he physically shook his head, squared his shoulders and took my hands. " I understand you haven't been dealing with things so well lately. " he stated. " What's up ? "

" I don't really know. " I lied, feeling uncomfortable with the room full of people staring at us.

" It's Spike. " Willow offered. " She's having trouble dealing with losing Spike. "

" I thought that was probably it. " he answered, glancing at Willow and then back at me.

I smiled blandly. " I can't help it, I guess he got to me. "

Angel smiled back at me and shook his head. " I knew that the night I gave you the amulet. It didn't matter how much you protested. I knew you were gone. "

I laughed. " You have always been able to see right through me. "

" I guess I have. " he answered.

I motioned towards the door where Faith was lounging. " Come in, " I told him.

We all moved through the huge arched doorway into what was our living room. It was a huge space with several places to sit, several tables to sit things on and in the center of it all a fireplace, something that apparently was not usual for Mexico. I guess being so close to the equator made them seem ridiculous. It was a huge massive thing, made of rocks that stretched up to the ceiling. An iron screen separated the roaring fire inside from the rest of the room, protecting the white rug that laid before it over the plush tan carpet.

The room itself was a bit dark and masculine for my taste. Paneling covered the walls, the couches and chairs were almost all leather. The only thing missing were animal skulls and guns on the walls.

I made my way to the sofa directly in front of the fire and motioned Angel to join me. Everyone else scattered to the other seats in the room, fanning out like they were standing guard almost. I almost laughed at them, they made themselves into visible eavesdroppers. In fact the only person in our line of vision was Dawn and she had chosen to sit with us on the couch.

" So you've been sick ? " Angel asked, taking my hand again.

" Just tonight. I think I must have gotten a bug or something. But my health isn't what made you jump the next plane from LA. What is it ? What's wrong ? "

He slumped back against the couch and rested his hands on his knees. He seemed nervous, edgy. It wasn't something I was used to seeing in him and I really didn't like it.

" I was going to try and work up to that. " he muttered.

" Work up to what ? " I asked, unyielding as I put my hand on his shoulder. " You're scaring me. "

He looked at me, startled. " I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I'm just not sure how you are going to take what I have to tell you. " he explained.

" What, is it bad news ? What could you possibly have to tell me that you're nervous about ? "

He fidgeted. He actually fidgeted. This was Angel, someone I had taken for granted as being always in control and he was squirming in his seat like Andrew. Now I really was worried.

" Angel, Please. " I demanded, when he still hadn't answered.

" All right. " he said finally. " I have good news and I have bad news. I can't ask you which you want first because telling you one would make the other one pointless. " he rambled.

" Angel. " I said, putting my hands on his shoulders and turning him so that he was looking into my eyes. " Just tell me the bad news. "

He sighed and a resigned look rested in his eyes. " Spike's in trouble. "

I don't think one person in the room was breathing. If they were, I couldn't hear it. It was like one of those times someone always comments about saying ' you could hear a pin drop. ' Well, if we had had one you could have heard it.

" What do you mean Spike's in trouble ? " Dawn asked from behind us. She put her hand on Angel's shoulder like she was delivering some shocking news to him. " He didn't make it through the fight with the First. He's gone, Angel. " her voice was so soft and gentle I was amazed. I decided in that moment that if anyone ever had to give me devastating news, I wanted it to be her.

Angel turned to her a bit and smiled. " Yes, he did. "

For the second time in a matter of seconds the room went silent.

It was Willow that made the first noise this time, coming up behind me and putting her hand on my shoulder, as if she thought I might need steadying. She was right, I felt like I was about to fall of the couch. Before I knew it Giles was on the other side of me and everyone was looking at me like I was about to die.

" Buffy has been through quite a lot over the last few months. She isn't up for this. " I heard Giles saying.

I was just thinking that I could speak for myself when I realized I couldn't. I couldn't make my mouth work. The only thought that I could manage was - Spike made it. He's alive.

I must have said it without realizing it because Angel was looking at me and smiling.

" He's alive, Buffy. I saw him myself. "

It was at that point that everything went dark.