A/N Sorry it's so short. You'll know why soon.
Chapter 9
Buffy, Angel, and Spike stood with Willow in what was once Buffy and Angel's lavish room. The ritual had gone off without another hitch the night before and now everyone was preparing to leave.
"So, Ork killed Jake and paraded around as him?" Willow asked. "He felt real enough when he was holding me hostage."
"He was a powerful mage." Angel said.
"Thank the Goddess you and Buffy stopped him in time."
"Hey! I helped." Spike defended.
"You were falling down some stairs."
"I still rushed the guy!"
"I'm just glad Ork didn't succeed in destroying the world like he'd planned."
"I think we all are." Angel said.
Buffy looked out the window sadly. Night was falling outside and they would have to return to their world the same as they had left it. Willow noticed her friend's sad face. "Don't worry, Buffy. I'll find a way to finish the spell."
Buffy smiled forlornly. "Yeah." She nodded and hugged Willow. "I'll call you later, ok?"
"Tell Giles I'll be in England in a couple of days."
"Of course."
"Mind if I catch a ride back to LA?" Spike asked.
"Sure, as long as you don't smoke in the car." Angel said. "I hate that smell of cigarette smoke trapped in leather."
Spike grumbled. "Might as well walk it."
Buffy ignored them and walked out. They had a long trek ahead of them and she had a plane to catch in the morning. Angel and Spike followed behind her, not saying much. The car ride back was just as quiet. No one really had anything to say. They knew they couldn't be together and Spike knew he couldn't have Buffy.
Back at Wolfram and Hart, the day was just getting started. Apparently, only a day had gone by in their world, so no one knew they had been gone. Wesley was surprised to see Buffy and even more surprised by what had gone on the entire "day" Angel had been gone. After accepting the clothes Angel offered her and changing into them, Angel and Spike explained everything to Wesley, Gunn, Lorne, and Illyria while Buffy went into the conference room and called Dawn.
"Are you ok?" Dawn asked.
"I'm fine Dawn. I'll be home in the next day or so." Buffy said.
"You don't have to. You could stay out there and work things out with Angel. He loves you, Buffy."
"I know, but we just can't."
"Are you sure?"
"No, but I know it's the right thing to do."
Dawn sighed. "Ok. I gotta get to school. I'll see you in a couple of days."
"Ok. Bye Dawn." Buffy hung up and stared at her shoes for a moment. She felt Angel walk into the room and stand in the doorway. She looked up at him, but kept her face as blank as she could.
"Do you need a ride to the airport?" Angel asked quietly.
"No. I've got a rental parked in the visitor's parking garage."
"Oh."
After a long, awkward silence, Buffy pushed away from the table and stood up. "Well, my flight leaves in a couple of hours and I need to check in."
"Yeah."
She smiled quickly up at him. "Good luck."
He smiled back. "Thanks. I'm going to need it." Angel paused and let Buffy move past him towards the doors. "Buffy?"
"Yeah?" She turned and looked at him.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"Trusting me to handle this on my own."
"Well, you agreed to be my second front, so it's the least I could do to get one ready for you. Just in case." She shrugged. "But I really don't think you're going to need it."
Angel chuckled. "Don't be so sure."
"Please. You're Angel. Failure isn't in your vocabulary." Without another look, Buffy turned and headed out into the lobby and out of Angel's life. He knew that even if he made it through his suicide mission, he wouldn't see her again. Not unless Willow found a way to bind his soul.
