Killed by death
Disclaimer: Joss, mutant Enemy, Fox, and anyone else associated with the shows.
Rating: Same as the show
Authors notes: I realized the other day that if I re write the every ep so that's its BA friendly then I'm going to have to write over 100 fics. Ugh. and i've changed me 'Thoughts' signs to >
Summery: same as show just BA friendly :)
Ch. 1
Buffy looked at the cemetery wall and groaned.
The things a slayer has to do.>
She jumped up and caught the top of the wall, pulling herself over, having a coughing fit on the way. As she landed she over balanced and fell to the ground.
There's no way things can get worse than this.>
She trudged across the graveyard sniffling as she went. After walking a few meters, Buffy noticed a shadow moving behind a mausoleum. As stealthy as she could, Buffy crept over to the mausoleum. She raised her stake and jumped around the corner swinging the stake as a natural reflex. As she did she heard a scream and at once lowered her stake. She watched Xander jump back while Willow and Cordelia came running at the sound of Xander's scream waving crosses in front of them for protection. Buffy frowned
"Non-vampire. Plus two."
"Hi" Willow's expression matched Buffy's.
The gang stepped out into the open
"Man, Buffy! My whole life just flashed before my eyes! I gotta get me a life!" he told Willow.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy questioned them.
"What are you doing here?" Willow shot back.
"Well, I'm patrolling!"
"Buffy, you're sick." Willow tried to reason with her best friend
"No, I feel fine. I mean, I'm... the world's spinning a little bit, but I like it, it's kinda like a ride." She tried joking.
"Half the school's out with this flu. It's a serious deal, Buffy. We're all concerned about how gross you look."
Buffy looked at her friend with an expression of contempt.
"I'm touched. Really. But I have work to do."
"Buffy, you promised Angel you wouldn't go out. I was there. You swore to him that you wouldn't slay. He's called me 3 times today to see how you are and make sure you didn't leave your bed."
"Willow I know what I told him. So I lied. I have a duty."
"Angel's gonna chuck a fit and blame me or even Giles. Buffy, come on, one night of rest is not gonna kill you." She tried again.
"No, but it might kill somebody else." Buffy spoke firmly.
Xander who had been watching the conversation pointed his stake at Buffy
"You mean Drucilla might."
Buffy looked turned and began to walk away.
"Buffy, this is not the time to challenge Drucilla for the ultimate fighting championship. She's at full strength, you're only half a Slayer. At this point you may as well be competing for the Miss Insanity title."
"Maybe, but I'm still the Slayer. And as long as I am, Drucilla's not gonna kill anybody else."
"Oh. Little girl trying to steal my fun."
Buffy turned to face Drucilla who had come up behind her.
"You should know that stealing is not nice. You should know. I have a theory for you. Do you think that if I steal the life of your friend it can make up for you stealing my sire? Let's find out." She told Buffy with a smile before running past Buffy to attack Xander.
Surprised, Xander fell to the ground. Willow and Cordelia screamed and clung to each other. Buffy used all the strength she could muster to drag Drucilla off Xander. Buffy grabbed her stake and tried to put it through Drucilla's chest. Dru knocked the stake out of Buffy's hand and grabbed her arms.
"I have never fought an unwell slayer. Angel told me it is not as much fun. I wonder if he was right"
Buffy bought her legs up and kicked Drucilla in the jaw as she flipped out of her grip. Dru went stumbling one way and Buffy went the other.
"I doubt he was. Only a soul can know truth."
Drucilla growled and charged Buffy again. She fell to the ground and had to fight the wave of nausea that overcame her. She jumped up and steadied herself for a minute, swinging randomly trying to hit her target. Drucilla rolled her eyes and laughed as she punched Buffy in the chest making her once again fall to the ground. Buffy put her arm up to protect her chest as she fought to get back up.
Drucilla grabbed her throat and pushed her so her head connected with the mausoleum. Drucilla knelt down beside Buffy and whispered in her ear.
"I wish my Spike was here. He would be so proud."
With that Drucilla leant toward Buffy's neck. As she was about to puncture Buffy's skin Willow hit her over the head with a piece of the mausoleum that Buffy had knocked off. Seeing she was a little dazed, Xander took advantage of the situation by kicking Drucilla in the back, sending her sprawling to the ground. Willow and Cordelia stood in front of Buffy who was trying to get up and pushed their crosses in Dru's face. She growled and spat at them
"Take a walk, overbite." Xander told her.
Buffy had got hold of the side of the mausoleum and had managed to stand up.
"Don't worry my pet. We will re schedule the tea party."
As Dru walked off Xander turned to Buffy.
"Buffy, are you okay?" he asked with a worried look on his face.
Buffy held her head and began to lose her balance.
"I told you guys to leave, I...I...Oh..."
Buffy fell to the ground unconscious.
"Buffy!" Xander called out.
Willow and Cordelia who had been watching Drucilla to make sure she left spun around at the sound of Xander's voice.
"Buffy?" Willow questioned
Xander knelt next to his friend and shook her trying to get her to wake up. Having no success he looked up at the two girls.
"We have to get her to a hospital now."
Willow and Cordy helped pick up the fallen slayer and placed her in Xander's arms. Making sure she was safe they began to run out of the cemetery.
"The one time I wish Angel was here." Xander told them. Willow groaned.
"Angel's going to kill us."
"Let's hope we picked up brownie points for keeping her safe then." Cordelia told her as the left the cemetery and ran across the road to Cordelia's car.
Ch. 2
After watching Buffy being wheeled through the doors of the ER, Willow turned to her friends.
"I'll call Giles, tell him what happened." She pointed to Cordelia, "You call Buffy's mum, tell her, n-not what happened just get her here and Xander call Angel."
Xander was about to protest till he saw Willows resolve face. The three of them headed to the waiting area where the phones were.
Finding only one phone they decided to go in turns. Willow went first hoping that Giles wouldn't be to angry with her. He picked up on the 3rd ring.
"Hello?"
"Giles its Willow. We were out patrolling and ran into Buffy."
"What? She promised she wouldn't go."
"Yeah, look, She got into a fight with Drucilla."
"Oh God. Is she okay?"
"We're at the hospital. The combination of the fight and the flu got to her and she's unconscious."
"Oh Dear. I'll be right there. Call her mother."
"On it."
With that Willow hung up and handed the phone to Cordelia.
"Don't you want to do it?"
"I'm going to go and get some coffee. I have a feeling it will be a long night."
Willow walked off leaving Cordelia with the phone.
"How are we going to tell her that Buffy snuck out and isn't all snug in bed?"
"Cordy, you want to be an actress. Think of this as practice."
Cordelia smiled and phoned Buffy's number.
"Ms Summers. It's Cordelia."
"Oh hi Cordelia. I'm afraid that Buffy isn't here. She said that she needed a walk. She should be back soon, can I take a message?"
"Um Ms Summers, I'm at the hospital. We as in Willow, Xander and I ran into Buffy as we were coming back from the Bronze. She didn't look to good. We were getting her home when she fainted."
"Oh my God. I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Bye."
Cordelia hung up and raised an eyebrow at Xander.
"I did my part. Your turn mister."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes. Willow said."
Xander sighed and took up the phone. After a few moments he sighed in relief.
"Leave a message after the beep."
"It's Xander. Buffy's been bought to the hospital. She went slaying and ran into Drucilla. She's a little unconscious. You'd better come as soon as you get this. Bye."
With that he hung up.
"Answering machine." He told Cordelia. She nodded and headed toward the nearest chair.
"Do you think that she'll be okay?"
"I hope so."
About 10 minutes later Willow came back with the coffee.
"Did you get through to Joyce and Angel?"
"Yes and no." Xander told her. "Angel was out."
"Oh. Knowing him probably out slaying. I hope that Buffy's okay. I'm so worried."
"I'll see if I can get any information."
Xander squeezed Willows hand and went over to the nurse's station. After a few minutes of arguing he came back and sat down.
"Only family is allowed to see her at the moment."
"But that's usually bad." Willow cried at him. "They only let family in when something bad is happening."
"Not all the time Will."
"Yeah it may just be hospital policy." Cordelia smiled at Willow and took Xander hand. "She'll be okay. I mean she's the slayer. Super healing powers and all that."
"Yes but the flu is different. Buffy isn't injured she's sick." Xander told her
"Giles!" Willow cried grabbing his attention.
Giles acknowledged Xander and Cordy while giving Willow a small hug.
"How is she? What happened? Why is she out slaying?"
Xander had to smile; Giles was a being a little too British.
"They won't tell us how she is because we're not family." Xander told him.
"We ran into her on patrol I tried to get her to go home but she wouldn't then Drucilla turned up and Buffy tried to fight her but everything was bad Buffy was to sick to do anything."
"Breathe Willow." Giles told her gently.
"Sorry." She told him.
"It's okay. I know that you're worried. Did she say why she went out?"
"She didn't want Drucilla killing any more people." Xander told him
"I understand. She is blaming herself completely for Jenny's death."
"Why?" Cordelia asked.
At that moment the elevator opened and Joyce rushed into the waiting room.
"Where is she?"
They all got up.
"She's still in the emergency room." Giles told her.
"I wanna see her." Joyce said turning toward the nurses station.
"They won't let us in there." Cordelia told her.
Joyce looked at Cordelia in disbelief as the doctor came in.
"Mrs. Summers?"
"Yes?"
"I'm Dr. Wilkinson."
"Is Buffy okay?
"We were able to stabilize and..."
"Is she okay?"
"She's going to be fine." The doctor told her while looking at the rest of the gang reassuring then at the same time.
"Thank you." Joyce sighed in relief
"Good. Good. That's good." Xander spoke for the group.
"I wanna keep her here a few days, though. She still has some healing to do."
Everyone looked at the doctor with worried looks
"What do you mean healing?" Joyce asked "I thought she just fainted."
"She has a severe case of the flu ma'am. And when she fainted we think she may have hit her head. As well as that she has a sprained wrist."
"When can I see her?"
"We just transported her up to the ward. If you can come with me you can see her before we get her settled."
Joyce nodded and followed the doctor. Giles and the gang followed suit. They met up with Buffy near her room. Cordelia and Willow both winced when they saw the IV in Buffy's arm.
"Buffy? Hi, sweetheart." Joyce came up next to Buffy.
"Hey, Buffy, we're all here." Xander told her.
"Hey." She replied a little groggily, "Here we are. It's all of we." Buffy glanced around, "Where's Angel? I want Angel."
"I'm here baby." Angel said coming up to the bed. Xander moved over to make room for him
"Are we taking me home?" Buffy asked him while trying to get up.
"No. Buffy, you need to lie down, honey." The doctor pushed Buffy back down onto the bed.
"Yeah? Lie at home. My bed is better than any bed that's... not my bed. Except yours" she pointed at Angel.
Xander and Giles went bright red and Angel had the grace to look embarrassed.
"She's still a little out of it." The doctor told Joyce in an amused tone. Joyce nodded back.
Buffy looked from Angel to Xander and caught his eye while pointing.
"Shhh! Hospital zone, No singing.
"She'll feel better after she's been here a while."
Buffy got a panicked look in her eyes and Angel groaned.
"Why did you have to say that?"
"No!" Buffy told them while she struggled to get up. "Lemme go. Look, I wanna go."
The Orderly, two nurses and Dr. Wilkinson all fought to hold Buffy in the bed.
"Buffy, what's wrong?" Willow asked her
"No! No! Let me go!" She cried
"I think she wants to go." Cordelia told the doctor. Xander rolled his eyes at her.
Angel grabbed Buffy's shoulders and held her down.
"No, don't do that! Stop it!" She cried at him
"Hold her steady!" The doctor told him
"Giles, tell them!" She hissed at Giles a little deliriously
"Please stay still sweetheart." Angel whispered in her ear
"The vampires! I need to kill the vampires!"
Xander's eyes widened and Willow watched to see how Giles would explain this one
"This'll help you relax." The doctor told Buffy. She injected she with a sedative and Buffy began to calm down
"Ow! No!" Buffy winced in pain
"It's gotta be the fever." Xander tried to explain when Giles didn't
"Yeah, it made her delusional."
Angel gave them both a small smile as Buffy grabbed his hand. Even in her weakened state she still had a strong grip.
"They're out there!" Buffy tried to talk to Giles again.
"Yes, uh, well, we'll, uh, we'll get those, uh, vampires later. I hear it's best t-to play along." He told Joyce who just nodded in confusion
"Honey, listen..." Joyce leant over Buffy
"I wanna go home." Buffy told her
"It's gonna be okay. I promise." Joyce tried to comfort her daughter
"Please don't make me stay here..."
"I promise." Joyce told her
"Angel please." She whispered as the orderly wheeled her into the room.
Angel had a hard time letting go of her hand. He kissed Buffy and watched as the door was shut in his face. He watched her through the narrow window.
"That was a new experience. I'm not used to seeing Buffy scared like that." Xander claimed
"Yeah, she just hates hospitals. Ever since she was a little girl." Joyce told them
"What happened?" Willow asked
"Celia." Angel stated.
"How did you know?" Joyce asked him.
"She told me."
"Who's Celia?" Cordelia asked
"When she was eight her cousin Celia died in a hospital. Buffy was alone with her at the time."
"Yuk!" Cordelia told them.
"Yeah, they were very close."
"The closest thing she had to a sister." Angel said absent mindedly.
"Wow, and she was eight?" Willow questioned
"Well, it looks like she's asleep. I should go call her father."
Joyce walked toward the nurses station with Giles right behind her. Willow watched them go then walked over to Angel.
"Angel? Are you okay?"
Angel allowed a little smile
"I'll be fine Seliech. I'm going to grab some stuff of hers and come back at sundown. I may come during the day, depending on how worried I am."
"Do you think she's gonna be okay in here?" Xander asked him
"I don't know, Lysette got her nose done here, and she came in looking for the Gwyneth Paltrow, and it looked more like the Mr. Potato-head."
Everyone looked at Cordelia.
"Cordy..." Xander started
"Buffy's not here for cosmetic surgery." Willow finished
"No, but while she's in here, she might as well get that thing done."
Willow gave Xander a look and Angel frowned at Cordy.
"You know, that thing on her face? You know that thing."
"Do you think Drucilla will attack Buffy in here?" Willow asked
"She can come in, it's a public building."
"If she comes in here they'll probably take her straight to the psych ward. I mean 1 look at her says 'I'm a psycho'" Cordelia told them
"Spike can act normal." Angel said while turning back to Buffy's room
"That's true." Willow voice was laced with worry.
"Am I the only one that's noticed that thing?" Cordelia asked them all.
"There's nothing wrong with Buffy. She's perfect the way she is." Angel said as Joyce and Giles came back.
"You should all go home, get some sleep." Giles told them all.
"I'll get some of her stuff and bring it back in the morning." Joyce told them. "Thank you for getting her here safely."
"Yes thank you." Angel spoke up as well. "I'm going to stay here a little while longer. I just don't want to leave her yet."
"See you tomorrow Angel." Willow waved.
"Hopefully not too early." Xander commented as he walked off. Angel glared before turning back to Buffy's room.
"She'll be okay Angel. She's been through worse than this." Giles spoke up
"I know."
Giles nodded and led Joyce away from Buffy's room. Angel went inside and walked over to Buffy. He sat on her bed and took her non injured hand.
"Get better soon my love. I'll see you tomorrow. Try not to be afraid. If you need to talk call me anytime, day or night."
With that Angel kissed Buffy on the forehead and walked out of the room. As he was closing the door he heard Buffy call out to him. He opened the door again and walked in. Seeing that she was sound asleep he smiled.
"What did you say?"
Buffy rolled over and moved further under the sheets.
"I love you." She whispered in her sleep. Angel chuckled,
"I love you too."
With that he headed home
Ch. 3
Angel managed a few hours sleep but before sunrise he was once again on his way to the hospital. He exited the elevator on Buffy's floor and broke into a run. He could smell fear. He could also sense a presence that he knew wasn't meant to be there.
Actually two…Druscilla!>
He turned the corner and stopped in surprise, Spike and Dru were in the hallway with Xander blocking their access. He saw Spike turn his head toward him with a smirk on his face. Angel hung back.
One chance. I'll give the boy one chance.>
"Visiting hours are over!" Xander narrowed his eyes slightly
They only just arrived> Angel realised
"Well we're pretty much family." Spike smirked at Xander while Dru chuckled
"That's our step-mummy who's sick. She'd want to see us." Druscilla ran a had along Spikes cheek to gesture who she was talking about.
"Step-mum! Eww."
"She's dating our daddy."
"And as far as I'm concerned I still say eww. Why don't you come back during the day? Oh, gee, noo. I guess you can't"
"If we decided to walk into Buffy's room, do you think for one microsecond you could stop us?" Spike asked.
"I could stop one of you." Xander looked pointedly at the chair
"And I think I could." Angel muttered loud enough for Spikes hearing to pick up what he said.
"As for the other one, maybe that security guard couldn't either. Or those cops, or the Orderlies…but I'm kinda curious to find out. You game?"
"Well done." Angel smiled, the boy, while still an idiot, was learning to hold his own.
"Buffy's white knight...Interesting." Spike sat back in his chair
"You love the little slayer." Dru placed a hand on Xander's chest. Angel growled and Spike, hearing the sound gently took her hand away from the boy. "I see it all, like little butterflies flying through your body."
"It must eat you up that Angel got there first."
Xander glared and while his nervousness was no secret to the vampires, he was putting up a great fight.
"You're both gonna die. And I'm gone be there."
Spike threw the Lilly's he was holding onto the chair behind Xander
"Tell her we stopped by."
The pair turned and headed toward the elevator. They stopped when Dru saw Angel. Angel stopped them with a look before they even spoke
"You come near this place again and I swear you won't even make it inside the doors."
"You know, your boy was a bit more frightening then you are right now."
"Maybe, but you also know that unlike him, I will follow through."
"We miss you." Dru reached out and took Angel's hand. Angel caressed her cheek and brought his hand down to her throat where he gripped tightly,
"Get gone!"
With that he threw her away from him and entered the ward.
"Don't worry my sweet, their time will come!" Dru spat as she wheeled Spike away.
Angel walked toward Xander, who was trying to control his rapid heart rate,
"Well done." Xander's eyes snapped open and he looked at Angel, "You fought your own emotions and put everything on the line...there may be hope for you yet."
With that Angel continued into Buffy's room. Xander smiled and went to get a cup of coffee
Once in Buffy's room, Angel found her in the throws of a nightmare. He didn't need to be psychic to guess what it was about. He took her hand and continually repeated to her how much he loved her and that she was protected. After the little scene in the waiting room, he knew it to be the absolute truth.
After half an hour Buffy's door opened and she awoke with a start.
"Good morning." Dr Wilkinson smiled at Buffy but frowned at Angel, "You're a little early sir. Visiting hours are officially in ten minutes, and you look as if you've been here a while.
"I am…..um, allergic to sunlight. I had to be here before it came up."
"Interesting story, and funnily enough quite believable"
"Could have fooled me." Buffy mumbled sleepily
"How are you feeling? Looks like your fever's gone down."
"Well good! Thanks for having me. Let's try and keep in touch." Buffy tried to get up but the doctor gently pushed her back,
"Not so fast. Hmm."
The doc held Buffy's arm as she inspected her wrist
"Good 'hmm' or bad 'hmm'?"
"Swelling's... gone! Does this hurt?"
"Nope."
"Amazing."
"Funnily enough quite believable." Angel told the doc who raised an eyebrow in interest
"Well, then I should probably go, right?" Buffy again tried to get out of bed but this time Angel stopped her
"Hang on Buff."
"Soon." The doctor assured her, "We have to make sure that fever is gone. That's a strong virus you have. Maybe not as strong as you, but..."
"I-is that the same virus the kids have?"
Angel looked at her questioningly. Something's up>
Before the doctor could answer there was a knock on the door, Giles stuck his head inside
"May we come in?"
"Please! Maybe you can keep our patient from bolting." She looked at Buffy and then Angel, "Rest! Hmm?"
The gang surrounded the bed, arms laden with different items. Xander went first
"Flowers for milady." For I am your white Knight>
"I think they call those balloons."
"Yeah, stick 'em in water, maybe they'll grow." Stranger things...>
"Not to be outdone..." Willow dumped some school work on the bed
"Homework!"
"It's my way of saying, 'get well soon'."
"You know, chocolate says that even better."
"I did all your assignments. All you have to do is sign your name."
BRILLIANT!> "Chocolate means nothing to me."
"Yeah right." Angel chuckled
Willow grinned and turned to Cordelia,
"Nobody told me I was supposed to bring a gift. I was out of the loop on gifts."
"It's, it's tradition among, um... people. Um...Grapes. Well, did you, uh, pass the night well enough?"
"Not really. Something happened I thought you..."
She looked at the nurse checking her IV,
"You know what? Let's take a walk."
This is more than Celia> Angel realised, what is that?> He could sense something in the hospital...something wasn't right.
He pushed Buffy in a wheelchair till they got to the entrance where he handed over to Willow and told Buffy he would be back later. He went back inside and into the basement. The weird feeling grew and he swore something brushed past him. He headed down into the sewers and was about to go home when he turned and headed to the other side of town, to the school library.
In the hospital courtyard Buffy was trying to explain her nightmare.
"Maybe it wasn't death. Maybe it was something else."
"So this isn't about you being afraid of hospitals 'cause your friend died and you wanna conjure up a monster that you can fight so you can save everybody and not feel so helpless?"
Well at least someone actually said it!> Buffy thought.
"Cordelia, have you actually ever heard of tact?"
"Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass."
"Your mom did tell us about your cousin."
Don't even think about it Buff> "This has nothing to do with that. This little boy Ryan is afraid of something, something real. As long as I'm forced to stay here, I'm gonna find out what."
"So, is this the part where we say, what can we do to help?"
"Pretty much. Xander and Cordy, I need you to check out the hospital records. Look for the kids files and see if there is any link between the ones who died, symptoms, that kind of thing."
"We can't do that one till later , it's too obvious first thing in the morning." Xander commented
"So between now and then check out the library."
"Why check out the library? We're there every day, we know what it looks like."
Everyone looked at Cordy till it dawned on her what Buffy meant.
"Well duh, I knew you meant research."
Cordy grabbed Xander's hand and stalked off toward the car. Willow giggled and turned Buffy around to take her back.
"I'll take her back", Giles took over from Willow, "You head back with the others…go to classes."
"Okay then, I'll see you at four." Willow gave Buffy a hug
Giles started walking them toward the entrance but at about half the pace of an elderly person
"What's up?"
"Hmm?"
"What's up? You're walking worse than you drive."
"I'm just enjoying the fresh air."
Buffy reached over and gripped one of her chairs wheels, Giles couldn't move any further.
"Buffy!"
"Giles!"
They stared at each other until finally Giles looked away
"What's up?"
"It's nothing."
"No you have something face."
"I guess I just don't like seeing you in here, knowing how much you hate it…"
"I miss her too."
Giles looked Buffy in the eye and nodded.
"Come on, lets get me back inside my prison and you can go back to work."
Ch. 4
The day passed with as much boredom as one could possible imagine. Buffy tried watching TV but there was only so much Day Time TV a person could take. Around four she couldn't take it any longer and she decided towalk around a bit.
The gang should be about to start researching>
She paced the hallway until eventually a nurse pointed out exactly how many times she had been up and down. Finally she went back outside and stayed there till the sun had set. Coming back in she passed Xander and Cordelia who were on their way to the records room.
"We haven't found anything yet Buff." Xander told her
"That's okay; something will come up…always does."
"How u feeling?"
"Not too bad. What are Giles and Will doing?"
"When we left Will was about to start looking for info on the Doc."
"Cool. Let me know what you find, even if its nothing…I'm so bored in here."
"I get that." Xander smiled and headed off with Cordy.
Back on the ward, Buffy walked fairly slowly, she wanted to go and see Ryan but she had to judge exactly how much attention the nurses paid her, she didn't want to be sent back to her room. Dr Wilkonson looked up as she passed,
"Oh Buffy. I've been looking for you."
"What's up?"
" Oh nothing, how u feeling?"
"Okay."
"Your boyfriend was in but he wouldn't go out to find you. He said he would be back later."
"Angel was here?"
"Yeah. Now dinner is being served, back to bed."
Buffy headed into her room and stopped in shock, the room was filled with bunches of flowers, and Mr. Gordo sat on her bed with a note attached
'Dear Buff, There is a flower for every minute that I wasn't with you today. I'll help Giles with some research and then come back. Feel Better.
A'
Can he get any more sweet>
Buffy ate her dinner (Leaving the Jello for Xander) and then headed off to see Ryan. She found him drawing a picture.
"Hey. Remember me?" she asked
"You shouldn't be here."
"Why not?"
"Contagious."
"Nah. I already got what you got." Buffy smiled but Ryan just went back to his drawing, "Oh, what, you think because I'm a grown-up? Believe me, I'm not that grown up."
She looked at the picture andnoted it was the monster from her nightmare. Ryan realised she was staring and he looked at her
"He'll come again tonight."
"Ryan, listen to me. I'm not gonna let this thing hurt you. Any of you. Grown-ups don't believe you, right? Well, I do. We both know that there are real monsters. But there's also real heroes that fight monsters. And that's me."
"Can't fight death."
"True…But I can at least try."
Ryan paused for a moment before turning the page over and starting a new picture. Buffy sighed and grasped his hand for a moment before heading back to her room. When she had gone Ryan looked around him,
We gotta get outta here>
Buffy went back to her room and found Angel lying on her bed. She went over and he took her into his arms.
"Missed you today."
"I had to get out, I was going nuts."
"Hmm, So how you feeling?"
"Like I'm in a hippy commune" Buffy grinned while looking around
"The place needed brightening up. And I figured if the place didn't look so crappy, maybe you wouldn't have crappy nightmares."
"I felt you in here." Buffy told him, "Holding my hand…telling me you loved me."
"I wasn't lying…Was it Celia?"
"In part…but it was something else, a monster. There is something here and I don't like it."
"I know, I can feel it."
"The kids are scared, and one little boy, Ryan…he said I can't fight it because I can't fight death."
"If it is real then you can fight it. I know you Buffy and I know that you will find the creep and kill it and then it'll be all of the good."
"Such faith." Buffy grinned
"In you, always. Now, are you going to eat that Jello?"
"I was saving it for Xander."
"Well he just got doughnuts off Cordy so…"
"You can have it."
"Yay!" Buffy shook her head as she watched Angel devour the sweet,
"Sometimes I wonder at your age."
After an hour of snuggling, a nurse came in and put an end to it by reminding Angel what the visiting hours were. Angel conceded and whispered he'd be back before dawn. Buffy watched him go then went in the opposite direction in search of Dr Backer
He has to be a part of this.>
Buffy watched him go to the children's ward and she followed after him. She went to follow him into the room a few minutes after he entered but she stepped forward she quickly changed directions to avoid being knocked over by the doctor being thrown from the room
What!>
He groaned and Buffy went over to check on him, as she did she was knocked backwards into the wall – hard. The last thing she remembered seeing was the doctor's body being dragged around the corner.
She woke up to see Ryan standing over her.
"I told you you couldn't fight it."
"It's okay Ryan, I just wasn't ready. I haven't fought something invisible in a while."
"It's not invisible."
"Not to you…and I know I saw it yesterday…so why not today?"
"You don't look as sick today."
"Oh I am feeling much better."
"I like you, I don't want you getting hurt like the doctor."
"I'm going to find the thing that's doing this okay. Do you still trust me?"
Ryan looked at her then nodded slowly
"Okay, so for now, lets get you back to bed."
She took his hand and tucked him in. as she was leaving she saw the picture he had been drawing earlier
"Can I have this?"
He nodded and closed his eyes
Angel made a stop via the pizza shop before returning to the library. He was one step ahead of the gang in that he trusted Buffy that something was wrong at the hospital. He also trusted the kids. Hospitals were scary places at the best of times but the amount of fear generating from the ward was unbelievable.
All day (except the obvious) he had been looking up monsters while the others were tracing their train of thought. When he reached the school he found willow with her head on the desk sleeping and Giles was in his office he gently moved Willow's hand from the keyboard of the laptop and he took up residence on the couch with a mug of blood. The file Cordelia and Xander had "Acquired" was on the chair next to him. He read through the information Willow had been looking up and matched a few things to the file. After an hour Giles came over,
"How is she?"
"Looking for a fight…I think mainly to relieve boredom at this point but I also think she's on to something."
"What have you found?"
Angel pointed out a few things to Giles who went and woke up Willow. They worked for a few hours till they thought they had everything. When they were done Angel drove Willow home and then went out slaying for an hour before heading back to the hospital to relieve Xander and Cordelia.
Once again before sunrise Angel went and spent some time with Buffy before he himself headed home for some amount of sleep
As soon as visiting hours began the next morning, the gang were in Buffy's room
"Uh, well, it looks as if you, uh, were on to something." Giles began
"I know." Buffy replied without looking up from Ryan's drawing
"The, uh, the, the girl Tina, um, it's apparent that she, she died of the fever, simple enough, but, but her records show her improving and then suddenly deteriorating w-w-w-without any apparent cause."
"So we checked Dr. Backer out. This guy was not a solid citizen." Willow concluded
"It wasn't Backer. He was clean."
"What do you mean 'clean'?"
"What do you mean 'was'?"
"He's dead. This thing killed him, and not with kindness."
"You saw it?" Willow was mortified
"No, it's invisible. I saw Backer nearly shredded and the thing knocked me down. But it's real. Which means I get to fight it." Yippie, something to do!>
"Um, this is your work?" She can draw!>
"No, one of the kids." You think I can draw!>
Duh Giles> "Oh. Um... Well, it would help if-if we knew what it was. I-it's invisible to you, but the, the children can see it."
"But you said you did see something the other night." Cordelia reminded her
"Uh, yeah, but I was pretty delirious. I mean, it doesn't make any sense. Why would I see it then and not last night?"
Before anyone could answer, the door opened and Joyce walked in
"Good morning. Ooo, looks like I interrupted a secret meeting." Joyce laughed and the others laughed nervously with her
"You sure didn't!"
"Honey, I, I just talked to the doctor, and she said I can take you home." Joyce smiled then frowned when her daughter didn't rush for the door
"No. I should stay here."
"But, honey, I thought you'd be raring..."
"I think my symptoms are flaring up."
"She doesn't look well." Willow tried to help
"Cause I'm not well. Uh, I feel all oogy." Buffy affirmed
"Increased ooginess. That's a danger signal."
"Are you sure?"
"Oh, yeah, but just for a day... or s-so."
"Who wouldn't want to leave, the room looks like a florists….Okay, well, I'll, uh, I'll talk to the doctor."
Joyce went to find the doctor and Cordelia closed the door behind her so as not to get any more surprises.
"So what's the drill?" Xander asked
"Giles, see if you can get a mug shot on that guy. I need to know what I'm fighting."
"Right. Yes."
"I'll check Backer's office. See if I can find any post-its marked 'why a monster might want me dead.'"
"Sounds like a plan."
"Course, if I find anything, I won't know what it means, so, Will..."
"Oh, yeah, I'm good at medical stuff since Xander and I used to play doctor all the time."
Xander chuckled nervously
"No, she's being literal. She used to have all these medical volumes, uh, and diagnosed me with stuff. I didn't have the heart to tell her she was playing it wrong."
"Wrong? Why? How did you play doctor?" Willow questioned Buffy
"I never have." She told her friend rather evasively.
Cordelia raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat to get Giles attention. Buffy caught her look and gave a small smirk,
Note to self, never let Cordy question Angel>
"Um, fascinating though this is..." Giles got the hint
"Yeah, right. Go!" Buffy ordered
"W-w-we'll call you if we... know something."
"Know something soon." Buffy called out as they left. She looked at Willow who was looking at her flowers in interest
"Angel I assume?"
"Assume away"
"Damn girl. How many are there?"
"A few hundred easily, I haven't counted."
Buffy gave the note Angel had left to Willow who upon reading it got the sappy 'chick flick ending' look in her eyes.
"I know," Buffy nodded before she said anything, "Sweet. Now before we get into it lets check out the doc."
At that moment Joyce re-entered
"The doctor has said you are not to leave till your feeling up to it so I guess when you leave really is up to you."
"Nice, well it wont be today…don't know bout tomorrow."
"Well just let us know. Now about the flowers…"
"Angel."
"Yes I gathered that. It's very serious between you two."
Buffy raised her eyebrow in amusement and Willow tried to hide her grin,
"Yes I know it's serious like that but…I mean there are hundreds of dollars of flowers here Buffy…you only had the flu. I mean sure your in hospital but really…it seems a little overboard"
"Yeah I guess…but hey, I feel kind of special. Plus I have no doubt he can afford it."
"That's not the point Buffy. This is a serious gesture…I may not approve of the depth of your relationship but promise me you aren't taking him for granted and that your not with him just because he can give you things most of us only dream of."
"I'm not mum. I wouldn't care if he didn't bring me anything, knowing how special what we have really is, ismore important than any flower or note.""
"Okay…I just had to say it. Listen if you're going to be in here for a few more days you're going to need a few more things. I'll be back later." She kissed Buffy's forehead and went out. Buffy shook her head slightly and smiled,
"So Will, to the doctors?"
"To the doctors."
The pair checked the coast was clear before heading off.
Ch 5.
After figuring out that Backer was most defiantly one of the good guys, Buffy and Will watched TV, waiting for a call from Giles. At five O'clock Angel turned up at the same time as Buffy's dinner
"He just wants the jello." Buffy told Willow as Angel took it from the tray.
"Can Vampires even taste?"
"Some things…like blood. Jello no but I like the feel of it going down my throat."
"Eww!" the girls chorused, Angel just grinned
"So how's Oz?" Angel asked
"Okay. The band are playing in LA so…He'll be back on Sunday."
The three of them jumped as the phone nest to the bed rang. Buffy picked it up,
"It's called Der Kindestod." A voice said
"Who is this?" Buffy was confused
"It's me. I've got your monster!"
And you couldn't just say it's Cordy!> Buffy sighed "Where's Giles?""
"Looking up stuff."
"Well, can you put him on?"
"Hey! I found your guy okay? Just listen."
"Right."
Buffy rolled her eyes and it left no doubt in Willow and Angels mind as to who she was talking to.
"The name means 'child death'. This book says that he feeds off of children by sucking the life out of them. Eew! But anyway, afterwards, it looks like they died because they were sick."
"So it did kill Tina."
"Yeah, that's my take. Cause it would be looking at the children's ward as basically an all-you-can-eat kind of thing, y'know."
"Backer was curing the kids and taking away the Kindestod's food."
"Hence, the slice-age." Cordelia confirmed "Oh! Eww!"
"What?" Willow and Angel could hear Cordelia quite clearly at this point
"Oh! Uh, you should see this thing! The way it does its thing, I mean, eww!"
Buffy heard the transfer of the phone from Cordelia and to Giles, she waited patiently
"Uh, uh, Buffy? Are you, are you still there?"
"Hanging on every eww."
"Uh, the, um, the Kindestod gorges by sitting atop his prey, pinning it down, uh, helplessly. Then he slowly draws out the life. I-it must be, uh, h-horrifying for the victim."
Angel saw Buffy's expression go blank and he took her hand in concern
"Baby, what's wrong? What's Giles saying?"
When she didn't answer Willow took the phone, thanked Giles and hung up
"It killed Celia." Buffy finally spoke
"Your cousin?"
"We have to get this thing, before it gets any more kids."
"You will. We will." Willow promised
"But how? I-I can't even see it."
Angel kissed her hand and whispered 'Faith' in her ear, she smiled slightly and squeezed his hand
"You saw it once." Willow reminded her
"Did I? Uh, maybe my mind was playing tricks on me. I mean, I was crazed with that fever. Who knows...Oh…"
"What?" Willow was confused
"The fever…I didn't have a fever last night. Even ryan said I looked better when I told him I couldn't see the monster any more. I need a fever. The doctor was injecting the kids with the virus. I'm going to give it to myself again."
She was up and out the door before either Angel or Willow could stop her. In the office, Buffy opened the door of the fridge
"Buffy, think about this." Willow reasoned
"I have. Lots of thoughts."
"It's crazy."
"And I don't like you feeling sick." Angel told her in a low voice
"The fever. That's how you see the Kindestod. That's why Celia could see it. That's why Ryan still can. It's the only way."
"But how are you gonna fight this thing with 107 degree temperature?"
"I guess we'll find out."
She took the test tube and uncapped it. Willow quickly called out to stop her
"Willow, I'm going to do this."
"Buffy, that's 100 pure. It'll kill you in an instant." Angel looked ready to die again as she said this,
"Oh. They really should put that on the label."
"This really is a very bad idea." Angel told her. Buffy gave him a small grin. Willow grabbed some water and diluted the serum
"This better work fast." Willow dropped a single drop into the beaker, "Faster than that"
Willow looked up at her, worried, but gave in and put another drop into the water.
"Here's to my health." Buffy saluted before drinking down the water, "How long will it take?"
"Should only be a few minutes…maybe less…Buffy I honestly don't know."
"Well lets go then."
Buffy ran from the room with the other two on her heals. As they got closer to the children's ward Angel noticed their pace had slowed and that Buffy wasn't running straight.
"Buff? How you doing?"
"I'll be fine."
"So not what I asked." Angel took her arm and as they rounded the corner she leaned heavily on him for support,
"Oh, God. I'm not sure this was such a good idea.
"Hang in there. You'll be okay." Willow tried reassuring
"Okay. I'm okay."
They looked in through the window to the Children's room. Angel glanced in but wasn't surprised when he didn't see anybody
Hang on!>
He did a double take and narrowed his eyes at the empty ward
"The kids. They're gone." Buffy looked at Willow and Angel in confusion, when she saw matching looks on their faces she knew it wasn't the fever
"What could have happened?" Willow wondered aloud
"I don't know. Maybe we're too late. Maybe they moved. Maybe I don't...I'm burning up!" Buffy felt her forehead while Angel placed his hands on her cheeks and neck trying to cool her down,
"Will?"
"What?"
"I think it's in there." Buffy's voice had risen in panic, Where are the kids!>
As the Kindestod materialized in the room, Buffy's eyes widened in fear. Suddenly it looked at her, tipped its hat and made its way toward the basement door. She tried opening the door but couldn't get the strength,
How am I going to fight it? I can't even break open a door!>
"It's going after them! We gotta get 'em."
Angel reached over to break it open but as he did Buffy's doctorran round the corner,
"Buffy?"
"Okay, we'll get 'em in a second." Buffy corrected
"What's wrong?" the doctor ran over
"I, uh, she's not feeling well again." Willow told her with a sigh, No point in lying>
"You should be in bed." She gestured to Angel to help take her back,
"No, no, it's not that bad." Buffy stalled
"No, you're coming with me." Doctor Wilkinson tried to get her to go back but Buffy pushed her away and ran, Angel and Willow quickly followed
"She's sorry!" Willow called back.
Knowing they didn't have much time gave Buffy a little strength and she ran as fast as she could looking everywhere for another basement access. The three of them ran through a pair of door and straight into two security guards,
"Okay, come on now. We can do this the easy way."
Angel smirked slightly but refrained from laughing,
Like you could stop me!>
Suddenly Willow started to swat her clothes and wipe at them frantically,
"Frogs! Frogs! Get 'em off of me!"
The guards started toward her as Buffy edged the other way, Angel stayed with Willow to give her a little more credibility.
"Oh, my God, frogs! Get them off of me! Please, help!"
Buffy took off down the hall towards the waiting room leaving Willow's cry's behind. She tried to round the corner near the nurses station but ended up running into the wall instead. Xander raced over from his post,
"Buffy, are you okay? Did Druscilla..."
"No. We need to get to the basement."
"There's access just outside. Why the basement?"
"The kids are gone and the Kindestod went into the basement."
"Fair enough…are you feeling okay?"
"Um…not so much. Fever and all…"
"I thought you were better." Xander held open the basement door and helped her through.
"Yeah well getting sick the first time was so much fun I thought I might try it again u know."
"Interesting…so where's willow?"
"Having frog issues."
"And Angel?"
"helping Willow with the frogs."
"I'm going to assume that's your fever talking."
"You Do That."
They kept running with Xander supporting her
"You don't know how to kill this thing." Xander pointed out
"I thought I might try violence."
"Solid call."
They picked up the pace a little when they heard the kids screaming
"Oh God, what if I'm too late?"
"Never." Despite his claim Buffy noticed his voice waver slightly.
She rounded the corner to the boiler room and stopped short at the sight of the Kindestod sucking the life from Ryan. She grabbed a pipe that was lying on the ground and ran at the thing, taking a swing at its head.
"You make me sick."
She swung again but the Kindestod blocked her move. Realising that Buffy had the things attention, Xander moved to Ryan and picked him up. He found the other kids and led them away. He watched Buffy with concern. He couldn't see the thing but he knew that the fight wasn't really going in their favor. He jumped slightly as he saw Angel appear next to him
"Weird." Angel muttered as he saw Buffy kick three times at nothing yet he heard the contact. The pair flinched as Buffy was knocked to the ground but neither could do much to help. They watched as she reached up and jerked her hands. She got up and looked down. Taking this as a good sign, Xander and Angel went over to her.
"Are you okay?" Xander ventured
"Actually, I think I'm starting to feel better."
She took a step forward and fell against Xander who grabbed her in support. Angel bent down and lifted her up.
"He's dead right? I mean, I heard something snap." Xander wanted to be sure
"That would be his neck."
"You're not gonna yak, are ya?"
"Need sleep."
"Lets get you to bed, and this time you're not moving."
"Yes mum" Buffy buried her head into Angel chest before snapping it back up almost catching Angel's jaw, "The kids?"
"Up here."
They rounded the corner and saw the kids sitting on the basement steps. Xander picked up Ryan who was still very dazed and together they headed back to the ward. Dr Wilkinson looked up as they all headed toward her,
"What on earth?"
"The kids were missing, I had to find them." Buffy told her wearily.
"What were you all doing out of your beds?" the doctor questioned them,
"Bored." Ryan finally told her.
"Well please, no more wandering. You're all very sick."
She herded the kids back into their room as Angel took Buffy back to hers. Doctor Wilkinson came back in and took Buffy's temperature.
"Well you're running a fever again. Not good."
"I reckon she'll be fine in a few more days." Willow told her.
"I have no doubt, but she isn't leaving till she keeps her fever down for at least three days straight."
"Okay." Buffy gave in and promptly went to sleep.
Four days later Buffy was finally at home in her bed snuggled against her favorite pillow, an Angel shaped pillow. The blinds on his side were drawn so as not to put him in harms way while Xander was on her other side and Willow was on the floor. As Joyce walked in, Buffy and Angel moved apart. Joyce frowned at them but Buffy only smiled innocently,
"Here you go, honey. Peanut butter and jelly, without the crust, just the way you like it."
"And the juice?" she questioned
"Two parts orange, one part grapefruit."
"That's my drink."
"I measured it exactly."
As she was leaving Buffy looked at her sandwich
"Oh, mom?"
"Mm-hm?"
"I wanted crunchy peanut butter."
"Oh, sorry."
"A-and I said extra jelly."
Anything to help my daughter get well." She said while looking pointedly at Angel who nodded his thanks for letting him stay with Buffy
"Oh, and while you're up, could I get a refill? It's just I'm so comfortable." Willow called out while holding up her glass.
"Thanks."
"Oh, oh, oh, and another bag of cheesy chips." Xander called after her. Joyce turned back
"Uh, you ate the last one."
"No, there's another bag hidden behind the raisins."
"I'm on it. Angel, Drink?"
"Maybe later." As she left Angel nuzzled Buffy's neck and bit down with blunt teeth, "I'll have one when your better." He whispered. Buffy grinned and hit him playfully
"Your mom's tryin' to Bogart the cheesy chips. What's that all about?"
At that moment Joyce came back in
"Oh, Buffy, here. Um, this came in the mail."
"It's from Ryan." She exclaimed happily. She had given him her address on request before she was discharged
"The boy from the hospital?"
Joyce went over and the gang peered at the drawing
"Oh, he drew you a picture."
Joyce smiled then frowned as she took in the pictures detail, a girl…obviously Buffy...standing over a monster who's neck is split open with blood coming from it.
"How... nice."
Joyce left again as Buffy took the picture and stuck it to her wall. "No one appreciates talent these days". She said as she admired the art work
The gang laughed as they took in the picture on her wall. Buffy climbed back into bed and sighed.
"Feeling better?" Angel asked as he felt her forehead for the hundredth time.
Buffy looked at Ryan's drawing and then at the photo of herself and Celia which was stuck next to it and smiled.
"Never Better."
The End…Or is it!
AN: Just to let you know guys, there will be a small break before 'I only have Eyes for you' is published as I have a major assignment due but have no fear, I have not stopped writing and I'll have it out as soon as I possibly can.
Thank you as always for your reviews, you guys r great :)
Dark-Wiccan-Goddess: Hehehe, im learning french at the mom. i'll prob fail :p i cant even get English right :p
milly301: As for Angelus, there is no way i can not put him in. i love Angelus...he will make an appearence, not so much this season, but there will come a time... :)
chosen-one91: I have no issues re-writting the whole series...i actually have a few later eps already planned, but 1 ep at a time :)
JessAngelus: I'm glad u liked. its been my favorite to write so far :)
Pureevil230: i'd have loved 2 keep jenny alive but i'm keeping with the story line as much as i can...u neva know, Jenny may still have a role 2 play
michebabyblue: Now if i answered that question wat would i have 2 keep u guys in suspense wiv :p so you'll just have 2 wait and c :)
BadGirlFaith: i want 2 keep it fairly close 2 the show coz it was an awsome show. some things will change but all in all, especially the emotional tones will remain :)
maria: Oh me 2 :)