"I Didn't Do It"

'Good Lord!' shouted a voice behind the mask. Buffy's heart rate slowed down, as Giles dropped the held up mask in surprise.

'Giles!' Buffy exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms. 'I'm so glad your here! Cordelia's killer...it's oh god...'

Giles held her carefully close to him, looking uncomfortable.

'Angel...he was here, he tried to kill me...'

With that, Angel stampeded down the stairs. and she jumped back from the doorway.

'Get away!' she screamed, tears staining her cheeks.

'But Buffy, I haven't-', Angel pleaded desperately, continuing to approach her.

'Didn't you hear her?', Giles roared, holding up a cross. 'Don't come any closer'.

Angel leapt back and snarled.

'Buffy', he growled, his face vamping out. 'Please. I would never have hurt you.'

'You have and you would', she said in a low voice.

'I daresay you should come back to the library', Giles said cautiously. 'I think we need to keep you under surveillance'

'What?', Angel spluttered, backing further away.

Buffy moved carefully and felt around in the large plant pot sat in the front porch. She pulled out a small crossbow, and quickly aimed it directly at Angel's heart.

'Don't move', she ordered, struggling to see through her tears. 'Giles, go to my room, in the chest are some handcuffs and shackles and whatever.'

'Pardon?', he asked, looking surprised.

'Just grab them and bring 'em down', she continued, refusing to take her eyes off the vampire.

Giles left silently.

'Buffy, why are you doing this?', Angel asked firmly.

'Shut up', she threatened. The crossbow felt heavy in her hands.

'I love you', he said simply.

'Then make this easier for me'

'What have I-'

Buffy watched bleary eyed as Angel fell to the floor. Behind him stood Giles, panting. he had just hit the vampire over the head with heavy metal shackles.

She dropped her crossbow, and hastily helped Giles to bind Angel's feet and hands with the shackles. When they'd finished, they both stood back warily.

'Is he-?', Giles began.

'Yeah, he's out', Buffy said uncertainly. Angel was a great actor at times. 'To the library?'

'I think the library will be sufficient to hold him, for time being, at least'

Buffy braced herself, and dragged the unconscious vampire over to Giles' car. . Giles locked up the front door, and opened up the boot. With a grunt, she flung him in, and slammed the boot down quickly.

'Remember the mask, Buffy', Giles said, pointing to the front door. She flinched when she saw the bleeding mask abandoned by the porch. 'It may be of use'

She grabbed the mask and flung it in the backseat of the car. Giles frowned when he noticed the blood oozing onto his upholstery. Buffy was about to climb into the front seat when she noticed Willow running towards her.

'Buffy! Where are you going? I know I'm late an all, but...oh, hi Giles', she gasped.

'Get in the car, Will, I'll explain on the way', Buffy said dryly.

'Okay', Willow said, looking confused. She stepped into the back seat, and spotted the mask. She jumped back and screamed.

Willow, Buffy and Giles sat motionless in the library, staring at the cage usually reserved for Oz's wild nights. Angel, awake, stared back at them sullenly.

'I don't know what you're trying to prove', he said quietly. 'I didn't do anything'.

'Giles, have you found anything interesting about the mask?' Buffy said loudly, ignoring Angel's pleas.

'It's rather plastic and man-made. The bloody discharge that emerged from the eyes appears to be synthetic, and attached to a hidden pump'

'Yuck', Willow shuddered, making a face.

'Buffy-', whispered.

'You know what Giles?', she said, leaping to her feet. 'I think I need to go home. Get ready for school tomorrow'

'Why don't you come back with me?', Willow offered. 'You'll feel safer at my place'.

'That sounds great', Buffy smiled.

'I'll drive you back', Giles said, frowning at Angel. 'I'll come back to watch him for the night'

'Are you sure that's okay?' Buffy asked gratefully.

'Yes', he affirmed, glaring at the cage distastefully. 'I should imagine that the two of us will have a lot to say to each other'.

Buffy looked at Giles, and saw only Ms Calendar in his eyes. She brushed away that image, and followed him out of the library. Angel called out through the bars as she left, loud and clear-

'Buffy, I didn't do it. I'm not a killer'

Willow's bedroom was always so homely, and Buffy wondered why her bedroom never felt that way. It struck her tonight though, that she never felt comfortable in her own room as Angel had free access to it.

Willow looked at her thoughtfully. 'Do you really think its Angel that did all those awful things?'

Buffy sighed deeply, and lay back on Willow's bed. 'Who else is it, Will? I mean, he was there. He had the gash on his shoulder, it had to be him'

'Oh', said Willow quietly. 'But he has the soul now and everything'

'I know but...I'm just so confused. I can't think straight'

For a moment, the girls were silent, listening only to 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' on the radio.

'What did Giles call over about anyway?', Willow asked suddenly.

Buffy stopped for a moment. 'Actually, I don't know. He never got round to explaining. Weird thing was he just turned up uninvited, like he sensed I was in trouble or something.'

'Good old Giles', Willow smiled softly. 'Always there when y'need him'

'He should wear a cape'

They both broke down into uncontrollable giggling at the though of Super Giles in spandex. But telephone ringing rudely interrupted their light hearted moment.

'Be right back', Willow beamed, and run to the hallway to pick up. After a few moments, she re-emerged, perplexed. 'It's for you'

Buffy's heart skipped, and she got up to take the receiver. 'Hello?', she asked unsurely.

The voice cackled. 'Hello, Buffy'

'No!', Buffy shouted. Willow rushed to her side.

'Poor Angel. An innocent vamp doesn't stand a chance with you'

'Who are you?'

Willow squirmed nervously. 'Hang up, Buff'

Buffy heard more laughter down the phone. 'Don't worry, Slayer. You'll find out soon enough, I promise'

'I'll...'

'Sweet dreams'

The line went dead. Buffy put the phone down in shock.

'Buffy?', asked Willow uncertainly.

'It was him', Buffy whispered. 'My attacker, Cordelia's killer. Will, we have to find him...Angel must've...'

Willow picked up the phone and began dialling a number.

'Hello, Giles?', she said. 'Just wondering how...oh? No change? Right. Buff got another call, its just...Sorry to bother you. Bye'

She turned to Buffy. 'Angel's still in his cell. There's no way he could have used a phone'

Buffy stared at Willow mutely, afraid to contemplate what that might mean.