Woo hoo! Another chapter, mainly to make up for the major wait before. Which, I am sorry about by the way.
Thanks for the reviews! They make my day, honestly they do. And I know, enough with the cliffhangers…but good news! This chapter hasn't got a cliffhanger! Everyone clap…one lonely clap at the back thanks…
As for everyone who wants Harry to stop being such a bitch…again you will have to wait. But it will happen, I promise you this. It will happen.
Just a reminder...for me actually, but I'll let you know too...this is about three weeks into the term ok? It's just a estimated guess, because before I actually had a real idea of when all this happens, but i forgot. So far, we are three weeks into the term, which i must say, is pretty good, considering Sam-453's All in the blood is only a week into term and she's at 41 chapters. Get a move on Francisco!
Anyway…on to chapter 27. And don't forget to review! I'll give you…I don't know what, but I bet it will be nice.
Chapter 27.
A dismayed, horrified and terrified look was painted on Buffy's face. It had been almost a decade since she had seen Angelus, but the memories of what he had done were still fresh in her mind. And they were all swimming up to the top, Angel's face in her mind…the sword fight…Angelus holding Willow…all bad memories, and memories that Buffy did not want to relieve that again.
"Buffy?" Willow asked quietly, when Buffy did not say anything. Willow put a gentle hand on Buffy's, squeezing it. Buffy looked at her, she was back to life and she had a dangerous glint in her eye.
"When are they going for him?" She asked Snape.
"Tomorrow night." He answered.
Buffy nodded and stood up abruptly, her chair fell the floor with a cold clatter. "Dumbledore, I need a port key." Buffy instructed.
"Of course."
Faith stood up, her hands in her jeans pocket. "When are we going, B?"
Buffy looked at her sharply. "We? We are not going anywhere. I'm going on my own."
"Buffy…"Willow started, but Buffy glared at her.
"No. I'm gonna grab Angel and go, no stops for Tara, no stops for Gunn and Lorne, nothing." Buffy said stubbornly, her hand released from Sirius, who was staring at her with a jealousy. Buffy was going to see the man she had loved for many years, and Sirius was in a silent envious rage.
"But Buffy, it could be dangerous." Faith said.
"Nothing I can't handle."
"B…"
"No!" Buffy shouted. Faith and Willow were quiet immediately. "No." She said quieter, tears forming in her eyes. "I can't lose him, guys. I can't. I can't let this happen again…remember what happened last time Willow?" Buffy asked quietly, and Willow nodded. "I can't do that again…not now…not that…" She looked at Sirius, but he was unaware, for his gaze rested on his shoes.
Willow nodded understandingly. "Be safe." She said, wrapping her arms around Buffy in a hug.
"B…do good, ok?" Faith said, and Buffy nodded. Casting one last glance at Sirius, she left the room, Dumbledore on her heels. The two remaining Scooby girls looked at Sirius, who looked up, raising an eyebrow at the expectant looks of the two girls. Willow gave him a little push on the shoulder and sighing; he leapt up and followed Buffy and Dumbledore.
Buffy was talking quietly to Dumbledore in the kitchen when Sirius came in, and when he closed the door with a bang, Buffy looked immediately up to him.
"Angel…the love of you life Angel? You're going to LA to save him?" Sirius asked, his hands shaking with jealousy.
"That's the one." Buffy said quietly, watching him closely.
"Oh, just wanted to make that clear." Sirius said sarcastically, and Buffy sighed.
"I have to go."
Sirius nodded furiously, and thrust his hands in his robe pockets. "Yeah, you have to save your beloved Angel." He said childishly.
"Look, Sirius. Angel can't become Angelus again. He just can't. Let me just put it this way…When Angel's good, he's very good…when Angel's bad…he's naughty."
"I'm probably going to sound like a petulant child, but…we just got together, and then you rush off to save your ex. Excuse me for feeling jealous!" Sirius said angrily, and Buffy smiled. She walked quickly up to him, putting her hands on his chest.
"Sirius…Angel is a close friend. Nothing more."
"Buffy…" Dumbledore's voice called and Buffy kissed Sirius soundly on the lips.
"See you soon?" She asked, and he nodded, kissing her gently.
"Soon." He agreed reluctantly.
"I'll floo if I need help, Big D." Buffy said, as she placed a finger on a broom, and Dumbledore nodded, as she disappeared with a 'pop'.
Angel was in his office, working out problems the Wolfram and Hart had caused lately, when Cordelia ran into his office, a smile on her face. This was a change, because not many of them wore smiles these days.
"Buffy's here." She said, and that was all it took for Angel to jump out of his seat and stride to the foyer. Buffy smiled as she saw him, feeling her heart flutter as she saw her first love. But Buffy had sorted something out, in all the craziness that had developed the last couple of days. She loved Angel. She always would, but she was not in love with him.
"Buffy." Angel said, stopping a few paces before the slayer. Buffy boldly embraced him, and Angel wrapped his strong arms around her. "I did not realize the owl would get to you so fast."
Buffy parted from Angel and looked up and Angel curiously. "Owl?"
Angel paled, and he led Buffy to a couch. Buffy was getting anxious now, and she bit her lip nervously. "Angel?" She asked again, her green eyes staring into him. Reading his soul.
"I'm sorry, Buffy." He said, and Buffy knew. She immediately knew. Buffy burst into tears.
It was quiet. Cream paint was on the walls, the floor was a sparkly red and the bed in front of Buffy was occupied by the person she loved and respected like a father.
Giles.
Tubes were inserted in body, and he was breathing on a ventilator. Cuts and bruises dirtied his face, and his body was still.
Buffy sat next to him, taking his hand in hers, tears threatening to fall again. Xander stood behind her, watching silently, trying to be supportive but failing. Giles was his surrogate father. Giles was everyone's surrogate father. And he was in a hospital, with machines breathing for him. Xander had tried to be strong when the ambulance was called, when he saw the surgeon walking towards him sadly, when Anya and Tara broke down in tears. He had tried.
"Giles?" Buffy asked weakly, salty tears trickling down her face. She squeezed his hand, but there was no response. Giles lay on the bed, lifeless. "Please…" Buffy choked, tears flowing even more. Xander put an arm around her and Buffy hugged him tightly, her hand still clutched to Giles'. "Will he ever wake up?" Buffy asked into Xander's chest. "Yes, he'll just need time." Buffy looked up into Xander's wet brown pools, and sobbed even harder. She was reminded of when she had put Faith in a coma, when she saw her lifeless body on the bed…everything was flooding back. What happened if Giles woke up half a year later? Buffy could not lose him; she could not cope without Giles guiding her.
"The doctors say he lost a lot of blood." A voice said behind them, and Buffy looked behind Xander and saw a pregnant Anya and a teary Tara.
"Anya, Tara." Buffy said, motioning for them to come forward. They did and Xander wrapped his arms around the three women, trying to be strong. Trying to be the man. He couldn't.
The four sat around Giles' bed, talking in hushed tones. Some time during the day, Cordelia joined them, and later in the night, Spike visited. They were all trying to make conversation, but none of them seemed to have the strength to do it. Even Spike, who was missing the fellow Brit as much as anyone else. But eventually, Cordelia struck up a conversation.
"What brings you here, Buffy?" She asked.
"Angel." Buffy said quietly, her eyes still on Giles' face.
"What about the poof?" Spike asked quietly. Buffy giggled, and glanced up at Spike.
"I missed you guys." Buffy said, looking around the room. "You should come back with me, when I go back to England with Angel."
"I'm there." Spike said instantly.
"Why are you taking back Angel?" Cordelia asked.
"Voldemort wants him." Buffy replied, and the group fell silent. They knew what that meant. Voldemort wanted Angel, to make him Angelus so he could kill and be an ally with evil.
"Have you talked to Angel about this?" Xander asked, and Buffy shook her head.
"I haven't had time…not with…" She trailed off, her eyes fixed on the face of her mentor.
"I'll go." A voice said behind them, and Angel walked into the room, putting a gentle hand on Buffy's shoulder. "Los Angeles can spare me for a bit, besides, I think that the last boat for a long time to the UK left when…" He trailed off, looking at Giles.
Buffy nodded in thanks. "You guys want to come? It'll be a change." Buffy asked, looking to her friends.
"I'll stay, keep the AI up." Cordelia said, smiling sympathetically at Buffy.
"I'm in." Xander said.
"Me too. I need a break." Anya said with her hand on her pregnant belly.
Buffy looked to Tara, and she shook her head. "I think I'll stay here, look after Giles and…"
"Keep away from Willow?" Buffy finished, and Tara nodded, her hands on the stomach of her green corset. "She's doing better, Tara. But I can't force you." Buffy lied. She was not going to tell Tara about the incident a couple of days ago, she felt there was no need. Willow had just lost her temper, and she was truly sorry for the slip up.
"Xander Junior and Sarah would like England." Anya said cheerfully. "There was this one time, two centuries ago, when I burnt this man's pe-"
"Ok honey," Xander interrupted with a grimace, "That's enough information for now."
"So you guys are coming?" Buffy said, stopping Anya from retorting.
"We're there, Slayer." Spike said. Anya, Xander and Angel nodded as well, and Buffy smiled tearfully. If only…
Buffy looked at the face of her mentor with his hand in hers, her thumb tracing circles on his cold skin. If only Giles could come. Buffy stood up quietly, placing his hand on his chest. Slowly, she leant down and kissed his forehead, mirroring what she had done so many years ago when Faith was in an almost similar position. Turning away from his face, knowing that if she looked at him any more, she would break down in a fresh set of tears, she addressed her friends.
"Pack only what you need. We leave tonight." Buffy said, hoping they would leave before the Death Eaters came. But she had a feeling, a gut feeling that they wouldn't. And if they did leave in time, it would leave the AI to deal with the Death Eaters, and they would not be able to handle them. Buffy knew she would need reinforcements.
Woo hoo! Long chapter…and see, no cliffie! Aren't I good? And btw, did you really think I would kill Giles? He's so wicked…when he comes to Sunnydale in Season 6 with all the magic…wicked! I won't kill off characters I love…
Please review!
