They had finally reached the city limits and Buffy thought it was about time. She sat there thinking if they had to sit in this musty old car much longer she may go out of her mind. She glanced over at Whistler every once in a while and he too seemed as though he maybe be feeling the same. The ride was very quiet, neither seeming to want to talk.
She knew that this ride was going to get to her, thus the joyful rumble of the slayage just before her departure. Her mind was racing with thoughts of Angel and where they were headed. In her thoughts she gathered all the questions she would ask of Whistler and whom ever he was bringing her to see. She was not all that comfortable with going along with Whistler but if there was a chance to help Angel then she would do what she had to. There it was again, Angel, always in her mind. All she could now think about was getting him back, wrapping her arms around him, and never letting go again. If that meant going along with this guy or demon or who ever he was then she would do it.
Giles had tried to ensure her that Whistler was here to help. He too was weary of the sudden appearance of this creature. He called the Council and a few other friends and found a few things out about the mysterious new guy. He was a lower level demon, put on this earth to help balance the scales between good and evil. He had no role to play only to do the bidding for the Powers That Be. He would help good or evil depending on the situation and right now the PTB wanted him to help the Slayer. She was fine with that but if he changed sides in the middle she had no problem with taking him down.
As soon as they crossed over the city limits, Buffy began to fidget in the seat. She had sat long enough and she needed to get out of that car. Whistler must have noticed her and finally broke the deafening silence. "Don't worry Slayer. We are almost there." He turned and gave her a quick smile. "First I need to find us a place to hang our hats for a few hours. There is someone I need to call to set up our meeting."
Buffy became irritated and didn't bother to hide it from him, "Fine, just find it quick I am tired of being pent up in this car." Whistler made a few more turns down some streets Buffy had never been before and finally came to a stop.
She was happy the car had finally stopped but when she looked out the window to the neighborhood they were in she let out a sigh. "Great, of all the nice places in LA we could have gone you brought me to the dank part of town. I should have known." She didn't wait for him to reply she opened the door and stepped out to the side walk. She stretched for what she thought was an eternity and looked over to find Whistler talking to a guy across the street. She became curious and wandered over to them only hearing the last part of the conversation.
"Thanks man, I appreciate it." He shook the man's hand and walked back to Buffy who was standing there with a sneer on her face and her hands on her hips. "What was that all about?" She asked him not too nicely. "Just trying to find us a place to chill for a while, like I told you, I need to make a call and arrange our meeting. Just trust me; the people we are meeting will be able to answer a lot more questions than I can." Whistler turned and headed back to the car. He got back in and motioned for her to do the same. She thought no way was she getting back in that car again, not for a while anyway. "Where are we going? Can't we walk? I am so tired of sitting in that seat."
He thought she sounded like the teenager she really was and he grinned and shook his head. Great, now I have to deal with winy teenage girl instead of angry heated Slayer girl. "Look, that guy told me about a place not far from here that we can hang for a while. It's a Karaoke Bar, but it's open all night. We can find a table in the back and listen to the music until my contact calls me, ok."
"So, tell me where it is and I will meet you there. I need to walk and get some air." Buffy stood there firm and Whistler knew she wasn't getting back into the car. He finally caved and gave her the address and headed off in that direction leaving the Slayer to find her own way. She breathed a sigh of relief and began to slowly walk down the street.
It was a cool night in LA and she felt so alone. As she strolled down the seemingly deserted streets she hugged herself tighter as she thought of Angel again. There was a cool breeze blowing the trees and the trash along the streets and Buffy felt even colder. She tried to feel Angel, she wondered if he was wondering the streets as she was and though she could feel him when he was near she felt nothing but cold right now. She tried to clear her mind and think of him, standing beside her, holding her close. She stayed that way for a block or so but it wasn't working, she couldn't feel him anywhere and a tear slipped down her cheek. She wanted to drop to the ground and cry but she just kept walking. That was until a cry for help brought her out of her daze.
The screams were coming from an alley just up ahead and after another loud cry Buffy sprinted towards that direction. She thought that this is just what she needed to beat the crap out of something and get rid of this feeling.
She rounded the corner and spotted the source of the screams. It was a young woman and she was being slapped around badly by some guy. He may have been a vampire or something else and she was taking no chances and she reached for her stake she had hidden in her jacket. She came up to the guy dressed in what looked like biker gear and slammed him up against the wall. She turned to the stunned girl, "Go, now." She turned her attention the man against the wall again giving him a quick punch to the face and dropping him to the ground. He began to cough loudly and braced himself on the wall to get up. "What the hell is wrong with you lady? Have you lost your mind?" Buffy backed away quickly turning to see the woman with a puzzled look on her face. "You're human?" Buffy said quietly almost to herself. The man finally looked at her, still choking from having the wind knocked out of him. "What were you trying to do?" He then walked back over to the woman and grabbed her hand, "Are you ok?" Buffy was stunned, did she get it wrong, and did she try to help someone who didn't need the help? "I'm so sorry; I thought you were hurting her." Buffy pointed to the woman standing there who was now crying and holding on to the man. "Look lady, not like it's your business or anything, but me and my old lady were having an argument and she gets a little loud when she is mad. I think you meant well, but since it isn't necessary for you to be here I think we will go now." He turned with the girl and walked out of the alley. Buffy could not believe what had just happened. Her senses were so off and she almost staked a human, what was wrong with her. Another tear rolled down her cheek and then another until she finally broke down and began to sob uncontrollably. She fell to her knees with her head in her hands and cried. She needed Angel so bad, her body ached for him, and she couldn't take it any more. She needed answers, she needed Angel.
Doyle sat on the chair next to Angel and watched him sleep. It had been two days since the souled vampire had come to stay with him and so far all he had done was sleep on his couch. Yes he got up to shower this morning and have a quick drink of some pigs blood Doyle had got for him but after that he was back to sleep. He wondered what he was supposed to do to help this guy. The Powers had sent him a vision complete with name and description so he could find him but nothing after that.
Doyle sat there quietly flipping thru the channels on the tube when he noticed Angel moaning in his sleep. He began to stir and at one point he thought he would wake but he didn't. He thought maybe he was having a bad dream and he should wake him but then he started to mumble something. He couldn't quit hear what he was saying so he got up closer. Angel had a pained look on his brow and now it almost looked like he may cry. He began to move his lips again and muttered one word finally that Doyle did hear clearly, "Buffy".
He couldn't stand the moaning anymore and the feeling of despair that was pouring off of him. He decided to wake him and find out about the terrible dream he must be having. He nudged Angel's arm lightly and saw his eyes open instantly. "Hey man, you having a bad dream or what?"
Angel didn't answer him at first. He just slowly sat up rubbing his face and neck. He sat up strait on the sofa and turned to look at Doyle. "Sorry, what did you say?" Doyle sat back down in the chair and looked at Angel puzzled. "Sorry mate. You looked like you where havin a night mare is all. Didn't mean to disturb." "It's ok. I think I slept enough anyway. I was having a nice dream but then I got this feeling, I don't know what it was. It was bad though, like my heart was breaking and I needed to find someone but I didn't know who." Angle sighed and got up from the sofa to stretch.
"Think I might know who, you said it in your sleep, Buffy." Doyle said to Angel waiting for a reaction to his statement. He didn't get much of one. Angel looked at him blankly then turned away. "Don't know any Buffy. I think I need some air though." Angel walked to the bathroom to get cleaned up, leaving Doyle to sit and think about his dream and this mystery girl, Buffy.