Buffy's mouth fell open as Xander's ords kept going through her head. Spike was back. When she gained composure she stuttered to Xander, "H...W...Did he do anything?"
"He was talking to someone else Buffy. I think he's kind of insane. He had gashes on his chest and was saying stuff about trying to cut it out. Then he out of nowhere told me how to kill the dead guys and I did it. I left him there thinking Dawn was more important."
Buffy sighed and put her head in her hands, "I want you guys to come to L.A."
Xander sighed, "Buffy. Dawn just started school and I have the next few days off but something could come up."
Buffy shook her head, "I'll phone the principle Xander. It will only be for tonight and maybe tomorrow night. We'll be back home before you know it. I don't want you guys there alone while he's in Sunnydale, even if he is unstable."
Xander spoke a little upset, "Buffy..."
Buffy didn't let him fiish, "The last time I saw him was when he left my bathroom. I don't think it's safe Xander. Please!"
Xander finally gave in, "Fine. I'll phone the school and clear the next two days. We'll be in L.A in about 4 hours."
Buffy nodded, "Good. I'll pick you up from the bus place and fill you in."
Xander sounded a little unsure still, "Whatever you say buffy. I'll see you in a bit."
Buffy nodded and they said their bye's. The lines clicked and Buffy sighed as she leaned against her pillows. She stared over at Angel, "Xander and Dawn are coming here."
Angel nodded, "Okay. Why?"
Buffy sighed, "Because Spike's back in town."
Angel shook his head but Cordelia spoke, "If he's in love with you why would he hurt Xander and Dawn?"
Buffy took a deep breath, "Spike and I got closer for a while but then a few bad things started to happen. He did something and then he left. Now Xander said he's pretty unstable. I just don't trust them alone with him right now."
Angel nodded, "So you and Spike were close?"
Wesley interrupted seeing the fear in buffy's eyes. He knew the truth about Spike and Buffy and he also knew she wasn't ready to tell Angel, "So why don't we go back to the hotel and start our search for Drusilla. I would like to go back to my life as soon as possible."
Buffy shook her head, "The suns out for two more hours."
Wesley smiled at her, "So why don't we go and then you can meet us back at the hotel."
Angel nodded, "Take the car. It's not a far walk."
Cordelia sighed, "Why doesn't Buffy just come with us and Angel can go through the sewers?"
Angel actually answered, "Honestly, it's just easier this way. With Dru around it makes more sense."
Cordy didn't understand how but didn't have a chance to say anything. Fred already had the door opened, "We'll meet you in the car."
Gunn, Fred and Cordelia left the room. Wesley glanced down to buffy as he stood up, "Thank you."
Buffy winked at him and he walked out the door. She then looked up at Angel when he was gone, "I'm kind of hungry."
Angel shook his head and smiled, "Most likely."
"I hear hospital jello is always good. Feel like coming to the cafeteria with me?"
As Angel's answer he smiled down at her and nodded slowly. When she didn't move he spoke, "You want some help?"
Buffy slowly nodded, "It takes so much energy just to nod."
Angel lent down close to Buffy and picked her up like a baby. He noticed she was lighter then ever now, obviously she wasn't eating well. As he stood straight up with her in his arms he smiled at the fact he was just able to hold her again. It didn't last long because he had to put her down. The feeling of closeness was back instantly as Buffy quickly wrapped her arm around his waist for support. Her head was on his shoulder and they started to walk out the door. Angel may of just bit Buffy and she may be in the hospital but considering their lives it was one of their most comforting moments.
-Cafeteria - Half an hour later-
Buffy smiled and continued her story, "She was doing good, really good until she missed the heart. I ended up having to save her."
Angel smiled, "I can't believe you're training her though."
Buffy nodded, "My whole life I've tried to protect Dawn from everything but when I came back I realized the days are coming where I'm not going to be there to protect her. She's going to be the Summer's woman who actually lives a long life."
Angel smiled, "You've lived pretty long, for a slayer."
Buffy shook her head, "If it weren't for you and Xander I would of ended the world and died at 16."
Angel nodded, "But you came back. You always come back."
Buffy smiled and realized something, "I'm sorry Angel, for how I acted when I saw you before. I had just come back and I didn't really know a lot."
Angel only smiled, "Don't worry about it Buffy. We know how we get when one of us in vulnerable."
Buffy nodded, "True, very true."
Angel smiled at Buffy's green tongue, "You've eaten like 5 of those. Your tongue might be permanately toxic now."
Buffy shrugged and stuck her tongue out at him, "I'm hungry and in need of sugar. I've had a very serious summer and right now is like a time off from that."
Angel nodded, "So if I brought up Spike..."
Buffy smiled, "I'd tell you that our serious talk can wait. We both know we'll go into our big serious talk where you explain yourself and I cry, then I explain myself and you walk out of the room."
Angel nodded, "In time."
Buffy smiled, "Plus I like this. I hate hospitals but being here with you without the soap opera and awkwardness makes me feel better."
Angel smiled, "Good."
Buffy looked into her empty jello cup and then back at Angel, "Let's make that six jello cups."
Angel shook his head and went to get her another jello. He admired Buffy so much. Even obviously tired and defenitely underweight she was the most beautiful woman in the world. His thoughts then quickly drifted to Cordelia knowing how she must be feeling. They were suppossed to see each other that night, tell each other something and he was pretty sure he knew what she wanted to say. Their feelings for each other had finally become obvious but things happened. Angel was just now realizing he didn't even say hi to her since he's been back. I guess being around Buffy made you oblivious because the second he sat back down at the table with her and saw her smile at the strawberry jello all thoughts of Cordelia flew out of his head and only Buffy remained.
-Sunnydale - Bus Place-
Dawn sighed as they sat on the bench, "How come you won't tell me why Buffy wants us to go?"
Xander shook his head, "Because it isn't my business."
Dawn smiled, "You're like my uncle Xander. Everything that goes on here is your business."
It was hard for Xander to resist telling her about Spike but he did it, "Buffy should tell you okay. Just be happy you're getting out of school."
Dawn sighed, "Drama, drama, drama..."
-L.A. - Hyperion-
Fred, Gunn and Cordelia sat at the table reading the past weeks newspapers. Wesley sat on his own by the whiteboard which had a map on it doing the same thing. It was hard for Cordelia to even process the fact Wesley could of betrayed them. She wasn't around when it happened but she knew it hurt everyone. His actions may of been justified somewhat but there was no way forgiveness was an option. Fred and Gunn on the other hand were a little more level headed.
As Wesley finished putting up a pin Gunn actually spoke to him, "You got anything Wes?"
Wesley looked over and nodded, "Actually yes."
All three of them got out of their chairs and walked towards him. Wes pointed towards the map which is where all eyes went. There was one spot that was marked with about 15 pins which is where he was pointing, "We've been concentrating on how the victims will lead us to her. I looked at all the locations and they all seem to be reletively close to this area."
Gunn stared at it, "Where is that? One of the pins are in the way of the name."
Fred shook her head, "That's the beach."
Cordelia sighed, "Now Drusilla's at the beach. See the beach doesn't hold the exotic feeling it used to."
Fred nodded, "Where would she be staying though?"
Wesley nodded, "Exactly. She's a vampire so she would have to stay somewhere out of sun."
Cordelia nodded, "Exactly."
Gunn shrugged, "No ideas."
Fred tried to be optimistic, "At least we know where she is."
Cordelia nodded, "Right."
-Hospital - Buffy's Room-
They had made their way back to her room a little while ago. Their presense around each other was mostly silence but a comforting silence neither had felt in a long time. Angel enjoyed watching Buffy, even if she was just lying there. She was getting stronger which almost saddened him. Taking care of Buffy made him feel special because when Buffy shows her fragile side it's one of those moments you want to relive over and over. Now Buffy lay on her bed with her arm outstretched off the bed and Angel sat in the chair right beside her with his hand intertwined with hers. They sat staring at each other, silently catching up on every reason they fell in love with each other in the first place.
The light dimmed slowly in the opposite corner and Buffy noticed, "I think the sun set."
Angel nodded, "You ready to go back to the world?"
Buffy shook her head, "I never was but I'll do it anyway."
Angel nodded and helped her sit up. When they were standing Buffy smiled over at him, "Even while we're fighting later remember that I really liked today. It was nice to feel again."
Angel smiled, "I'll always be here Buffy."
The line seemed oddly farmiliar but Buffy didn't place it. She only enjoyed the sound of it. Soon they were on their way to the hotel. Hand in hand they walked enjoying the time together knowing it wouldn't last, it never lasts.
-Hyperion-
Cordelia was pacing slowly, "Where are they? It's 5:30 so the sun set about half an hour ago."
Wesley sighed, "Buffy's injured and they're walking. Stop worrying Cordelia, they know how to handle themselves."
Cordelia shook her head but shut up. She paced a little still for about five minutes which is when Buffy and Angel actually walked in the doors. The second their bodies were past the door their hands drifted apart and their eyes never met. Sadness filled their bodies but they couldn't show it, there was Drusilla, Spike and the world now.
Cordy faced them trying to hide jealousy, "Took you guys long enough."
Buffy shrugged, "Ran into some trouble."
Wesley smiled, "Are you feeling okay?"
Buffy nodded, "Oh yea. I heal fast."
Wesley nodded, "Good. We kind of found Drusilla."
Wesley pointed to the map so Buffy and Angel walked there waiting for his explanation. Buffy didn't need it though. The second she saw the red pins she spoke, "She's by the beach. Of course she's by the beach."
Angel looked curious, "Why would she be by the beach?"
Buffy sighed, "She'd want to see me save you."
Fred continued the explanation, "We figured out it was the same beach Angel was in but we couldn't find out where she would be staying. The sun is a problem."
Buffy shrugged, "She's in the caves. When I was living in L.A. we'd party there all the time because if you go back far enough the light doesn't hit you. The little police officers that do routine checks never caught us. It's perfect."
Cordelia smiled, "Still hard to believe you were popular."
Buffy smiled, "I should show you my crowns."
Cordelia shook her head and Angel spoke, "So let's check it out."
Buffy stopped him, "I'm so going to change my shirt first. Blood is suppossed to be worn on the inside."
Angel nodded realizing the blood stained on Buffy's shirt around the neck area and then Buffy walked out the door to Xander's car for her clothes. Cordelia sighed and smiled at Angel, "Welcome back Angel."
Angel smiled and for the first time in two months they hugged. Fred smiled too and walked over and hugged him from the back, "It was so scary without you two for the first month. Less scary the last month without you."
Angel and Cordelia smiled at Fred's reaction. Gunn shook his head, "Welcome back, yay but I ain't hugging you guys."
Angel smiled back at him. Buffy came running in through the door with her bag and saw them all close and laughing. She ran straight up the stairs and into any room to change. Everyone saw her but no one did anything. Fred pulled away and walked back to Gunn who put an arm around her. Cordy pulled away so Angel's arm was still around her. Angel though stared at Wesley who was reading the paper.
It took a lot for Angel to say what he did, "Wesley." He turned to face Angel. "I haven't even thanked you for doing what you did. I'm never going to forgive you for what you did with Conner but if Buffy and you can get even a little close I think we can have some common ground."
Wesley nodded, "I didn't ask for your forgiveness Angel. The only reason I'm here is because of Buffy. I did a lot of wrong things these past few months. I don't deserve to be here. I'm pretty sure Buffy will see that once someone tells her who Conner is and why he's 15 years old."
Angel couldn't reply because Buffy started running down the stairs. When she got to the bottom she stuck a stake in the belt loop of her pants, "I have an hour and a half until I have to pick up Xander and Dawn. Let's make this quick."
Angel nodded, "As long as you're not driving."
Buffy sighed and walked out to the car. In seconds everyone followed.