Thanks for the reviews! XD
Sorry this took so long guys... I tried to put it up a few days ago but the server wouldn't let me upload anything... This is the only other chance I've had to get back on the computor... if I get more reviews I'll post as soon as I can, k? I'm sorry I can't really promise more, but the past few weeks... well months, especially the past two weeks or so though have been absolute hell for me... I'm not trying to make excuses, just saying I may not be able to get on the comp... Anyway, without further adeu, part 5:
After fifteen more minutes of driving, they finally reached the hotel. Angel picked Buffy up again, and carried her over to the couch, laying her down on it. He tried to leave to go phone her mother, but she clung to him, whimpering desperately until he sat with her.
'Cordelia, do you think you could bring the first aid kit?'
'Sure.' She said quietly, going over to behind the desk and bringing the box over, sitting down beside them. Wesley went into the back, presumably to find Gunn, the newest member of Angel Investigations and inform him that they'd found Angelus, and that Angel was back now. When Angelus had first changed, he'd stabbed Gunn, so he'd been unable to track the demon with them.
Cordelia watched with a mixture of concern and doubt. How was it possible that Buffy would pull through this? To be beaten like that… the feeling of helplessness, it would've been terrible for anyone, but for Buffy, who'd always had her slayer strength to protect her…Even with Angel here to help her through it, she doubted the slayer would ever be the same after.
Angel lifted Buffy's shirt part way up so the bandage on her stomach was showing, and was attempting unsuccessfully to take it off.
'Here, let me do it.' Cordelia said, slightly annoyed over her boss's possessiveness. Angel moved back slightly, but still kept physical contact with Buffy. Cordelia leaned over and expertly untied it, gasping when she removed it.
The slayer had deep gashes all over the area where the bandage covered. There were a few stab wounds as well, but they seemed not to have damaged any internal organs. Angel, who was obviously fighting to contain his reaction, handed her the disinfectant, and she splashed it over the wounds, trying hard to ignore the other girl's pain. This must be so hard for him… she thought, looking at Angel with concern. It was affecting him almost as much as it was affecting her. Cordelia put a big piece of gauze on the wounds, and finished by wrapping the sticky fabric back around.
The sun began to peek through one of the windows. Angel instinctively got up to go close it, but Buffy held onto him, unwilling to be without him even for a second. Cordelia raised her eyebrows slightly, and went over to close it. They could probably use some time alone… her thoughts were sombre. When she turned to leave, she was stopped by the sound of his voice.
'Cordelia.' She turned around. 'Willow's coming.' For once, she decided not to question, just nodding and exiting the room.
Angel lifted his mate as if she weighed nothing, carrying her up to his room and lying down on the bed with her, curling his body slightly around hers. She mewled in distress, needing to be closer to him. The slayer pushed her body against his, clinging to him and nuzzling her head into his chest, still trembling slightly. He pulled the blankets up to her chin, holding her close. A slight sigh of contentment escaped her lips as they drifted gently into sleep.
Willow sighed, doing up her seatbelt and starting the car. The sun peeked over the horizon. It had taken her a long time to get out of the Magic Shop, let alone the Summers's residence. Everyone had pestered her for news of Buffy, of Angel, why they couldn't come… Joyce had revealed something shocking about Angel's reasons for leaving in her ranting. She'd said that she'd told him that he had to let Buffy lead a normal life. And Dawn had been furious that she wasn't allowed to come. She and Buffy had grown close lately. At least Giles had been ok about it. He'd been worried, sure, but hey, he wouldn't be Giles if he wasn't. Xander had wanted to come at first, but Willow had been able to convince him that it was best if she went. Anya was concerned too, but slightly indifferent as always, and cont to stay whereever Xander was. Willow rolled her eyes at the thought. Though they made a cute couple, the two of them were sometimes a bit pathetic in their affection for each other. When she'd gone over to talk to Tara, the other witch had told her straight off that she's come as soon as the term was finished in a week or so.
Willow pulled out of the driveway, starting out on the four-hour drive to LA. She really hoped Buffy was all right. She's gone through so much in the past week or so, even before she'd ran off to LA. She couldn't imagine what her friend had gone through there to make her so emotionally shattered. Buffy, the Slayer, who was usually so strong, was reduced to a sobbing wreck from what she could hear in the background during her brief conversation with Angel. She sadly wondered if Buffy would ever get her slayer strength back, and what they'd do if she didn't. Angel, who'd always helped when Buffy was away, now had his own business in LA. While the other scoobies and herself did a fair job of holding their own, it didn't always last. And that all depended on how fast she and Buffy got back from LA. If she even got there at all.
Willow slumped down in her seat, silently willing the mini van in front of her to go faster. There was only one lane, and the driver was taking his or her sweet time. This was going to be a very long drive. Especially with no one to talk to, to give her comfort except for her thoughts, which weren't very comforting at all.
She reached over to the controls, flipping on the radio, drowning in the music…
Willow tentatively opened the door to the Hyperion Hotel. It certainly was impressive. She wondered why it had been abandoned. She'd looked it up on the Internet to find out the address, but it didn't have that much more information other than the history of the place. Oh well. She could always ask Angel later.
Cordelia sat at the front desk at the computer, Wesley and a black man peering over her shoulder. What was Wesley doing here? The last she's heard he'd been hading back to England? And who was the other man?
'Um, hi!' She said, waving.
'Willow!' Cordelia said happily, looking up. 'Angel said you'd be coming.'
'Hi Cordelia! Hi Wesley!'
'Hello Willow.' The former watcher replied. His eyes were glued to the screen. Clearly they were onto something important. The black man beside Wesley glanced up at her and grinned, walking over to shake her hand.
'Charles Gunn.' She grinned back, slightly uneasy.
'Willow.'
'So you're Buffy's friend?'
'Yep! That's me! Best friend to the slayer!' She said cheerfully, feeling slightly more at ease.
'They're upstairs, sleeping.' Cordelia glanced briefly up at her before turning back to the computer screen. 'I wouldn't wake them just yet though. From the sound of things, she hasn't gotten much sleep lately.' Willow nodded. She followed Gunn back to the computer screen, bending down.
'So what' cha researching?'
'We think Wolfram and Hart are supplying demons with doximall.' Wesley said seriously.
'A happiness drug?' Willow frowned. Like the one used on Angel?'
'Yeah, we saw some really happy demons a few nights before too.' Gunn said unhappily.
'What's Wolfram and Hart?' Willow asked, confused.
'Our very own evil law firm that likes to bother us!' Cordelia said with sarcasm. Willow grimaced.
'Sounds like the commandos at first, but then we figured out that they really killed demons.' She rambled.
'Didn't stop them from sicking that freak on you though.' Cordelia muttered. She flashed a grin at Willow's surprised expression. 'I see things.' This confused Willow to no end, but she let it slide for now, resolving to question the brunette about it later.
'So how's Buffy?' Willow asked in the silence that followed, despite the constant clicking of keys.
'She had some pretty deep cuts.' Cordelia said seriously. 'The cops had her patched up a bit, but Angel wanted to change the bandages.' She shuddered slightly, but kept typing.
'How about mentally?' Cordelia pointedly looked over at Willow, and the witch lowered her eyes. She already knew, and shouldn't have asked. Buffy, the Slayer, was broken.