Title: Three Blind Mice

Thanks: Again I would very much like to thank all who took time to read/review this story. I hope that I can incorrate all your ideas and/or suggestions! Thank you so much!!

Note: Just to state, I myself hate, absolutely to the core, Riley's character. But that isn't the point in my story... to bash him that is... because in the show Buffy did feel something for him at least in some seasons. I think it is important to incorporate some of that... and athough he isn't mentioned in this chapter I wanted to write that right now. Now this chapter has no cliff hanger and I'm very sad about that because I do, as you might have guessed, love cliff hangers.I want to state as always sorry for my bad grammar but I do not have a betta reader so I guess that's that. Oh and I also wanted to say that the 'Angel & gang' world isn't in the correct season because I think some of the events in the show would have happened differently and in the case of this story more slowly.

Gently I brushed the hair away from my face and looked around… there was a small circle chair in the middle of the room and two staircases that went up to, I'm guessing, the first level of rooms. "What could possibly be worse?" I asked looking back to Lorne.

"Honey-pie, it's not Angel," he told me sadly.

"What do you mean?" I asked. How could Angel not be Angel?

"Buffy," I voice stated from beside me, slightly alarmed yet comforted. I turned my head to a very gruff looking Wesley. He had come out from an office, it seemed, the door still lay open showing paperwork strewn everywhere, "Angel is…" his eyes looked right into mine, "Angelus."

"What?" Oh god it was worse. "How… I mean I know how… I mean when?" I stumbled. I guess I wasn't the only one he felt truly happy with then… sadly this information broke my heart but it wasn't as important as the matter at hand. I turned to Lorne as he spoke.

"A while ago," he paused for dramatic effect, "everyone's been trying to capture him and… and…" he stopped.

"re-en-soul him?" I asked, trying to finish his sentence.

"No, no that can't be done," Wesley said gloomily, "We have to, have to, kill him or, no there is no or… just death."

I laughed out loud which alarmed the two guys that surrounded me; "You can re-soul him though… You just need to capture him…"

"It's far more complicated than that," Wesley proclaimed but I saw the hope behind his eyes. "It's not only him, there's this bigger evil… I think you noticed the darkness when you came in… well that would be the beast's doing."

"The beast?" I asked slowly.

"This is too much for her… she's just had a long journey," Lorne told Wesley.

"No, no tell me it all…" I interfered.

"Buffy- you don't know how awful Angelus is…" Wesley muttered looking down at a stain on his sleeve… blood… I didn't comment, "He-he'll hurt you horribly… you need to get out of LA quickly."

"Where is he?" I asked ignoring his suggestion entirely. I knew how to save Angel and this time I could do it. I could be here to help him.

"Buffy- you really don't understand…" Wesley tried again.

I walked over to a cabinet on the other side of the room with a knife sticking out as Wesley and Lorne watched on, "This is where you keep the weapons then?" I asked rhetorically. The whole place seemed to be a bit out of whack. I could tell that some sort of battle had taken place here at some time not too long ago. I opened the cabinet door further and grabbed a shiny axe with a long handle, closed the door and turned back to Wesley awaiting his answer. "Sure I do Wes, so tell me where is the head-honcho and his beast-ly friend?"

"Buffy- stop. We all know this isn't going to work…" Wesley said shaking off the ideas I had presented.

"Wesley this isn't for you to worry about, if I die I die… I'd die for the cause," I knew the drill, "Tell me where Angel... Angelus," I corrected myself. Can't let myself confuse them. They aren't the same. "…Is. Now before another year goes by!"

"Some warehouse or other…" he answered slowly.

"How'd you know?" Lorne asked Wesley suspiciously. There was something in the way Lorne asked Wesley that, that made Wes seem unreliable. It made no difference to me, the 'home problems' that is and I sure wasn't going to play referee.

"I got a phone call from a well known source," He explained dryly.

"Where is it?" I demanded.

"On 77th avenue. But Buffy that makes no difference… even if you could defeat Angelus… you can't get the beast down. The sun's down forever until the beast dies… Angelus is free to roam anywhere he wants… for now."

"77th avenue… I'm going." I walked past the two and out the doors I'd come. I reached into my pocket for my key and opened the door to the 'Neon'. I slammed the door after my legs were both inside and stuck my key in the ignition. The car roared but wouldn't start. I tried again without any difference. But of course it would do this to me! On this day of all days… when I needed to get there as fast as I could and prevent anything worse from happening. I scoffed, as I flung the door aside and began walking towards 77th. It wasn't too far away I could make it there in about 25 minuets… or 30. In any case I

would make it there.

"Wait Buffy…" I heard Lorne call from behind me.

"Catch up to me or yell it over cause I'm sure not waiting for you," I yelled back, as I kept walking.

I could hear him running over, already out of breath. "Buffy, you need backup."

I laughed, "I'm fine. I can deal with it." I've done it all before.

"I've seen people with your mind set before… you need help… if you won't wait for anyone, let me do it. I'm not great or anything but I could assist?" Lorne suggested.

"If you keep up then fine but I'm not going to wait a second longer than necessary." Lorne slowed down, "I guess the jobs not for you?" I asked turning my head.

"Not that," he shook his head, "I just- I have a better idea- for me anyway. I'll meet you there… how 'bout honey-pie?" I shook my head in return.

"Whatever you want." I turned my head back and crossed the street leaving Lorne to whatever he was planning. I must have looked absolutely weird. Some horribly distressed woman, practically barreling down the street with an axe. I bet I would be getting some odd looks if there were any people out. I guess the darkness was really getting to them. I turned the corner onto

76th. I was so close now… I wonder what Lorne was doing?

The warehouse loomed before me not more than 4 minuets later. I stared at the building dimly. All emotion was drained from my face yet I pressed on. I opened a side door slowly glancing around me so I wouldn't be jumped out on. Entering the warehouse was easy, too easy… I looked around, taking in the building. No one was anywhere… had Wesley fooled me?

"Buffy?" I turned to the voice… I guess not… Angelus stood in front of me a smile presented on his lips, "My what a treat I thought you were out of this business."

Somehow he wasn't as menacing as the last time I had faced him. I knew his weak spots. The ways he liked to fight… and on top of that I had a lot more experience with fighting since my Angelus fighting days. I walked the two steps that I was away from him and swung the axe. I knew it wouldn't really be that easy… and I'm glad it wasn't since it would have killed him if he didn't duck.

"Your in a good mood then?" He laughed to cover up his obvious pleasure in having a 'real' fight.

"Only getting better," I said as I kicked his legs out from under him. He fell to the ground with a thump and I got on top of him. He laughed at me more I guess enjoying this. I just had to roll my eyes as I set my axe down. "I hope this doesn't hurt too much," I mumbled to him.

"Won't hurt me at all," He stated.

I grabbed his head and tried to smash it into the floor to black him out but he only reached his hands up and grabbed me strongly on the sides. He pulled me over, switching the tables on me. Before I could do anything he kissed me. I pulled my face away from him as fast as I could. "What do you think we're doing? Cause last time I checked us kissing wasn't on my schedule. Nope just kicking your ass"!

Angelus got out from on top of me alarmed; it seemed, with himself. He pulled me up right after him without a second warning and threw me at the wall. The wall was hard, very hard, but it was no match for me. I got up and went back to Angelus, suddenly looking for my axe. Angelus and I both saw it at the same time and both went to lunge for it. I was quicker though as we both stood up. Angelus had nothing to defend himself with but he still seemed un-worried. Instead of crying out in terror

(as if he would ever do that) he started laughing. "Okay I think I get it now you think losing is funny?"

"My god Buffy how daft you've become. You've forgotten about the funniest part." Two ruff hands circled my waste, they were hard and scratchy as rock. I dropped the axe and it hit the ground 'clang'. I turned my face to stare at my captor.

"The beast I'm guessing?" I whispered as his arms crushed me further.

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