A Distant Angel 4
Author's Note: I wrote this chapter and the last one basically one after the other so I hope it doesn't seem too rushed. :)
Six Months Later
Angel had been getting better every day, slowly. And now finally he was at full health. He and Buffy sparred often, maybe three or four times a week. Through the training Angel had become strong again. He had also become much more relaxed and his personality changes were so rare now that Buffy was almost ready to ask him exactly what happened back in the alley.
Angel emerged from his room; wearing a pair of black trousers Buffy had bought him and nothing else. His chest still bore the scars from the battle, even thought it was so long ago. As Angel headed to the kitchen down the hall, Buffy caught sight of him from the living room.
'Angel!' She got up and cut him off at the door to the kitchen.
'Buffy.' He said quietly. 'I didn't know you were here.'
'Where else would I be?' Buffy replied.
'I… I thought you were out, with Giles and the others.'
'No Angel, I wouldn't leave without telling you.' Buffy assured him.
'Buffy, don't think you have to tell me everything you do. I don't want to get in the way like that.' Angel turned away nervously.
'Oh Angel, no. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant I wouldn't leave you. Not after everything.' Angel smiled when he heard Buffy's voice. He took a step towards her and held her in his arms. She let him wrap his arms around her shoulders and she looked into his eyes.
'I love you, Buffy.' He said.
'I love you too, Angel.' Buffy whispered back. She smiled and leant up to kiss him. They parted and headed into the living room. Buffy led Angel over to the couch and together they sat down. She slid sideways so she was facing him and he looked innocently at her.
'What is it?' He asked.
'Angel, I've waited this long and I want to ask you something.'
'What do you want to know?' Angel asked.
'I want to know what happened back in the alley where we found you.' Buffy replied. Angel's expression changed instantly.
'I don't know if I'm ready to talk about it.' He said.
'Angel, please. Can you try? For me?' Buffy pleaded. 'I need to know what happened.'
Angel sighed. He didn't want to explain it all to Buffy. He'd spent over a year in a removed state while he tortured himself over what happened back in that horrible alley. He didn't want to surface those wounds again; he couldn't.
'Buffy, I…' He began. '…I can't. I'm sorry, I just can't yet.' He quickly got to his feet and hurried out of the room and into the kitchen. Buffy sighed and she sunk back into the couch.
Giles appeared at the doorway. 'Buffy? What is it?' He asked.
'Angel.' She simply replied.
'What about him? Is something wrong? Did something happen while we were gone?'
'Giles. Nothing is wrong. Nothing happened. It's just…' She paused. Giles looked at her, hopeful.
'What?'
'He wouldn't tell me what happened back in the alley. He's not ready. When will he be ready Giles? I need to know what happened to him back then because I can't help him unless he tells me.'
'Buffy, he's been to Hell and back. Before, literally. Angel has suffered and you of all people should know that people who have suffered need time to adjust, time to get back into the swing of a normal life.'
'Giles, he doesn't have a normal life. We don't live a normal life here. We're still fighting demons several times a week, and it's no different than before. The only thing that's changed is that now we have thousands more on our side fighting with us. I understand that he's been through a lot, but he has to open up eventually. He has to talk about it.'
'Buffy, you can't force him. He'll come to you when he's ready.' Giles assured her.
'But it's not doing him any good to not talk about it. Giles, I want to help him but I can't if I don't know.'
'I understand Buffy, but it's more complicated. You know that. Just give him some time.' Buffy sighed and accepted Giles' reasoning. She slowly climbed to her feet and left the room. She headed back to her own room, opposite Angel's down the hall. She closed the door behind her and disappeared.