"It's fine Buffy, I heal fast, remember?" Angel slowly retracted his arm from her reach, and in doing so, winced painfully. He had burns all the way up his left arm, including the crook of his elbow, which made it painful for him to move it.

"Angel, I need to clean that arm."

Knowing full well that disagreeing with her was futile; Angel held his arm out again.

"Um – heh – you're going to have to take your shirt off, I can't clean your elbow properly with it on." Buffy had aimed to sound matter-of-fact, and had failed miserably.

Angel got up and moved towards his bed. He took the shirt off over his head, revealing his back, but was having trouble getting it off his wounded arm without causing pain.

"Let me help." Buffy offered.

Angel turned to face her, and looked into her eyes as she helped ease the sleeve off his arm.

"There." She said, having successfully removed his shirt without causing him any pain.

Buffy inhaled sharply, getting a closer look at his arm. She began bandaging his arm tenderly, her actions full of love and concern. When she had finished bandaging his arm, she spoke to him.

"Angel why did you… you shouldn't have followed me…" she trailed off.

"I – I couldn't let you go without telling you…" As soon as Angel said these words, he knew he had said too much.

"Telling me what?" Buffy's expression changed from curiosity to anxiety.

"I…" Angel trailed off. He lowered his head. How to start? Buffy, your Mum told me to stop dating you… and I found your notebook, I want to us to be together forever too… He couldn't tell her. Buffy would be furious at her mother, and it would be his fault. But on the other hand, Joyce had wanted to deny him the one in the world he loved more than anything else…

Buffy was watching Angel closely, he looked so lost. She wanted to touch his face, to hold it in her hands, and bring it to hers and kiss him. She shook her fantasy out of her mind, and gave Angel a concerned look, but he didn't see it, his head was still lowered. Slowly and cautiously, she moved towards him, crouched down, and placed her hand gently under his chin. It was then she felt his tears. She slowly tilted his head up, and saw his face. He wasn't sniffling, and his nose wasn't running, but tears were falling silently down his cheeks. It broke her heart.

Angel seemed not to realise that Buffy could see him crying, he just looked into her eyes. He suddenly felt ashamed. He turned away from her, Buffy's hands slipping off his face. This seemed to upset Buffy more than the tears.

"Angel, don't turn away from me, please."

She got up and sat next to him on the bed.

"Angel don't shut me out. Talk to me." He didn't answer her. Desperately she tried again; "Angel! Talk to me!"

Angel merely turned his head towards her, looking over his shoulder at her. She was so beautiful, but she was also genuinely worried, and it showed on her face. He couldn't let her worry, especially not about him.

Buffy dropped her gaze, instead choosing to stare fixedly at Angel's bedcover. She had never seen Angel this way. Except for when she sent him to hell… She traced the patterns of the bedcover with her finger, and, lost in her thoughts, failed to notice Angel get up. He sat down again, close behind her, delicately putting his arms around her waist (his arm still twinged a bit). Instinctively, she leaned into him, resting her hands atop his, and playing with his fingers. It was then she noticed his Claddagh ring. He still hadn't taken it off…

He rested his head on her shoulder, and Buffy turned her head to stare into his eyes. She wanted so badly to kiss him.

"Angel, what was wrong? You were…"

"Buffy, I can't leave you… I – I need you…"

Buffy wanted so badly to tell him she felt the same, but he was going to leave town…

"Angel, we shouldn't do this. I can't lose you again, so if we keep apart, then this will be easier…" She mumbled. She knew that wasn't true.

Sad, Angel closed his eyes, and left them closed for a little while, enjoying the feel of her in his arms, after all, it could well be his last time. He suddenly felt her shaking, and when he opened his eyes, he found Buffy crying. This hurt him seemingly more than his own aching; he couldn't bear to see her so upset. He turned her towards him and pulled her to him, and she adjusted to his embrace, burying her head under his chin. He would hold her until she felt better…