SECTION2

Following Buffy into the hallway, I was suddenly knocked over with a sense of deja vu.

"Holy Shit."

Turning around at my sudden outburst, both Buffy and Xander stared at me open mouthed amazement.

"What?" exclaimed Buffy.

"Did Mr. Broody and Poetic actually lower himself to a common man and swear?" a shocked Xander grabbed at his chest in exaggerated astonishment.

I watch Buffy give Xander a playful swap before turning her sparkling eyes on me, her knowing nod telling me my own eyes weren't playing tricks on me.

"Pretty freaky huh?"

Sunnydale – Sunnyvale – should I really be surprised?

Finding my own mouth open, I stare around the walls, at what could only be described as Buffy's hallway to Buffy's home in Sunnydale. The furnishings were slightly off but the architecture was unmistakable.

"How?"'

"Big Guy, if we knew that, we wouldn't need you."

Ignoring Xander I think again about the room where I had awakened.

"Were we just in. . .in your room?"

Xander nodded for Buffy, "Yep, did you notice Mr. Gordo. . .or actually in this freakish town, Mr. Porko?"

Buffy ignored Xander and instead came closer to me, her hand stopping just short of laying on my chest, an endearing move of long ago that I frankly wouldn't have minded her following through.

"You know what's really odd, I was sent the key to this house in Rome. A plain manila envelope addressed to me came by messenger at the offices Giles and I set up. I opened up the package and out slides this plain silver house key, no letter, no explanation. I had no idea it was a key to this house, I just thought it looked similar to my old house, so I kept it. Looking back at the incident now, I am not sure exactly why I kept the thing, but I stuck it in a drawer and forgot about it. When Xander and I got here and we were trying to find a safe refugee for the three of us. We came to this place, an identical house to my house in Sunnydale, in an identical neighborhood, in a piratically identically named town. Xander jokingly asked me if I had the key that was sent to me. I was like, yeah sure it right here on my key chain. . .and it was. I was being sarcastic, I didn't put it on my key chain, but it was there, right between my apartment key and my car key. . .right where my old house key used to be. We tried the key to prove we were nuts, but the key worked perfectly and we have been here ever since."

For some reason her story made me think of Spike amulet landing in my office, but decided now wasn't the time to bring that up. Besides her current story, actually all her stories since I awoke here, had a reoccurring theme that could not be ignored any longer.

"Buffy. . .where's Dawn, Giles and Willow? Do they know about this? Don't you think they should be here?"

I watched Buffy eyes register shock at my question.

Buffy?"

I smelled the salty tears in the air before they appeared in her eyes.

I looked at her imploringly for the answer, but I already had the vibe she wasn't going to tell me anything.

Feeling helpless and confused, I turned to Xander, someone I could depend on to open his mouth and tell me anything, especially if, like I had a sinking suspicion, might revolve somehow around me.

"Xander?"

Xander, who had turned his attention to the window at the end of the hallway, shook his head without ever turning around, "L.A., they are still in L.A. where this mess started. Where we all started our search for you after leaving Rome. "

His voice was flat and lifeless, causing my own stomach drop. The fact that Xander wasn't being a smart ass or a jackass to me spoke volumes. If Xander was to distracted to hate me then whatever he knew, and she knew, had to be released. . . now.

"Why aren't they here?"

"We didn't go to L.A. just for Angel, you and I both know that. If it was just about Angel I would have gone alone. We went together because it was about saving L.A., hell Xander it was about saving the world. Why do you have to be so damn mean."

My blond slayer seemed to be ignoring me at the moment her attention and fury seemed placed at Xander's feet.

Save me? Save the world? This had to do with my fight. . .key words, my fight.

Damn it. . .what else have I done? Who else have I killed for my own taste of revenge?

"But you could have taken the Immortal's warning."

The name of the Immortal made me clear my throat. "No offense, but talking like I'm not in the room isn't going to make me go away. " Turning to Xander I focused my rising tension at him, deciding his hate would be an easier barrier to crash then Buffy's protectiveness.

"Xander, what happened in L.A.?

Finally getting an acknowledgment, Xander Harris, focused his gaze at me. Not exactly friendly, not exactly hateful. . .just sorrowful.

"I'm sorry. She's right. . .we all knew what we were getting into. Now what I wanted to show you guys is downstairs."

Buffy, who had stayed unusually quiet perked up, "Yes, let's go down stairs. This town is something else, I wonder if the mansion is here as well. We will go for a walk tonight."

I blinked my eyes, amazed and a little disturbed how quickly the two had turned the conversation away from L.A., at each others throats one minutes, than bonding together to keep me in the dark the next.

"No, let's talk about L.A., what's downstairs can wait." As an after thought I turned to Xander, "It can wait, right."

That was a mistake on my part, the little doubt in my question.

Xander and Buffy exchanged concerned glances before Xander answered, "Well it can, but I think we should go look. . .now."

"You heard the man," smiling now, teeth and all, Buffy comes to me and wraps her arms in between my bicep, once again the warmth of her skin distracting enough for me to loose my focus, "Please let's talk about L.A. later. Its long, its dark and most importantly its over. Right now we have this town, hellmouth and all that fun stuff staring us in the face. I think that's more pressing, don't you?"

I wanted to say no, but found myself helpless under the puppy dog look, long batting eyelashes and most of all the deep underlying pleading in the request. What ever happened in L.A. was obviously as bad for her as it was for me and her lack of explanation only exhibited to me how raw the emotion still was.

But my friends. . .a part of me felt I should push the subject.

"Buffy, could it have anything to do with the here and now?"

I knew she would say no. I knew I was waffling because I didn't want to see the full extent of the pain I saw bits and pieces of in her face.

I would just give her time, just a little more time to gather her thoughts.

"I don't see how L.A. could have anything to do with this." her grasp around my bicep tightened and I see a struggle on her face.

I don't know if she is thinking rationally or with emotion.

Defeated for the moment, I turned to Xander, "So what did you have to show us?"

"Huh?"

"Knocking on the bedroom door, 'something you guys should see...'"

"Oh yeah, right. . . I've got it downstairs in the kitchen." I could see Xander spring somewhat into the Xander I remembered. Despite the crows feet around his eyes and a genuine sag in his shoulders, maybe he really hadn't changed that much.

Xander turned around and bounded down the stairs. I felt Buffy's hold restrain me when I tried to do the same.

"Angel. . .don't be to hard on him. Seeing this town sucked into the depths of hell only to driving along and find its back. You feel like all the sacrifices you made, all the years spent fighting were for nothing. I thought I was tired before, but staring at this damn town makes me downright exhausted."

She did look tired and helpless at what I could do, I gave her a quick kiss on the lips, amazed how something so innocent still brought an unmistakable heat between the both of us.

"This can't be Sunnydale. I strongly believe there is a simple explanation for this, a demon with a sick sense of humor, one we can take out together and be on our way." Quickly I kiss her again before she can contradict me.

Okay maybe that second kiss was for me as well.

"If you say so." winking she released my arm finally and headed down the stairs. Enjoying the view of her behind, I gladly followed.

Rounding the doorway from the dining room into the kitchen I watch Buffy snatch a newspaper out of Xander's hand.

"You've got to be kidding me. I mean I knew he wasn't necessarily good. . .but he told me he wasn't evil."

"Yeah, plus the way he ragged on soul boy career choices, I thought this would be the last thing he would do."

Curious I walk behind Buffy to glance at the paper over her shoulder. In big bold print read:

LEGAL FIRM WOLFRAM & HART TO TEMPORARILY RELOCATE L.A. OFFICE TO SUNNYVALE

Quickly scanning underneath the paper, the byline read something about an earthquake destroying their L.A. Offices and while renovations were being performed the business would be coming to Sunnyvale.

"Buffy, how did things end up in L.A.?"

I look up from the paper, to acknowledge Buffy and Xander having a heated exchange I had apparently turned out. Heated enough to ignore my request.

"I didn't see this coming. The fact that he came here, after going on and on in Rome about how useless this trip was, this country was. . .and than this."Buffy was motioning to the paper in my hand with erratic hand flicks, "to take over Angel's job as CEO of the L.A. Branch. It's. . .sick."

Curious I again look down at the paper, where a quarter page black and white picture finally catches my gaze. An arrogant smiling black and white picture which would have stopped my heart in shock if it hadn't been for the fact it wasn't pumping to begin with.

Lindsey.

Impossible, I shake my head as if to clear away the picture in my eyes. Lorne killed Lindsey. . .Lindsey was dead.

"Buffy, if I've told you once, I've told you a hundred times, Vampires plus Buffy do not equal sane relationships." Xander, in afterthought, turned and flashed me a half smile, "No offense."

Vampires? Obviously my own shock had left me clueless to their conversation.

Taking another quick stomach turning glance at the picture, I throw the paper down on the counter, trying for face down, landing face up.

"Who are you talking about?"

Xander shook his head in disgust and nodded his head to Buffy, "Your story."

"Thanks" Walking over to me, looking at me under a veil of unconcealed caution, Buffy lovingly rubs a hand up my arm, "There was this guy in Rome that I sort of dated. It was more because I wanted someone who reminded me of you than an actually attraction. . ."

"Yes I know, the Immortal, its not important.", reassuringly I pull her into my arms and plant a kiss on the top of her head, "Because he's not here now, I am."

"Angel." I heard a content sigh, happy to no end that it was my name and not the Immortal Scum Bag that caused such a happy sound.

"I wish it were that easy Angel. According to that article he's coming to town."

"In CEO capacity." Xander pipped in, before nervously turning around and sticking his hand in the refrigerator.

Buffy shot Xander the mother of all looks before nodding her head down towards the paper, "Do you know him because that's his picture."

I again look down at the paper, only to be greeted by the insane smile of Lindsey MacDonald.

"Where?"

"There." Buffy's finger pointed down to the middle of Lindsey's picture.

"Lindsey?"

Now Buffy looked at me like I sprung another head, "I don't know any Lindsey, that" tapping impatiently with her finger, "is the vampire I dated called the Immortal."