Chapter Eighteen

Brian and Buffy walked through the doors of their house, and Buffy's mouth fell open.

"What on earth happened in here," she asked dropping her bags and walking into the living room.

Popcorn was all over the floor and couch, there were bags of chips and pretzels littering the furniture, and several editions of the Sports section of the newspaper, were thrown here and there. It was at this most inopportune moment, that Xander walked in carrying a trash bag and dust pan.
"Buffy," Xander said surprised, while stopping in mid-step.

"Xander LaVelle Harris!" Buffy exclaimed, placing her hands on her hips. "What have you done to my house?!"

Xander began to stutter, as he fumbled around to the couch. "I-I-I was just about to start cleaning up. I d-didn't expect you home so early."
"Well the plane departed on time," Buffy said glaring at Xander, as he picked up the Living room, "Good for me, bad for you."
"Hey did the Giants win?" Brian said peeking around Buffy's shoulder. Buffy turned her head to one side and looked at her husband.
"Do you mind?"
"Yeah," Xander said standing up with dust pan in hand, "the wide receiver tackled the guy just before the line with two seconds left! Oh, man it awesome!"

"Yes!" Brian exclaimed, making a fist in the air.

"Can we come off the testosterone for one moment here?" Buffy said raising an eye to the two fans.

"Sorry," Xander said, kneeling back on the floor, to resume his clean up.

"I swear," Buffy said folding her arms. "you're worse than Dawn, when she used to stay home alone."
"Hey!" Xander said, insulted. "I worked long and hard to teach her that!"
"Ah, so that's where she got it from?"

"You bet," Xander said, placing last bit of trash in the bag. "There. I think that does it."
Xander stood and settled the trash in the bag.

"Ahem," Buffy said pointing to a piece of paper hiding under a cushion. "You missed one."

Xander groaned, and bent over to pick it up. "Now you're done," Buffy said, a wry smile on her face. Then she turned to Brian and led him upstairs. After placing their luggage on the bed, Brian grabbed the phone.

"What are you doing?" Buffy asked.

"Calling the office," Brian said hanging up. "I wanted to see what messages there were for me."
"Not even home five minutes, and already you're diving into your work again?"
"I know, Buffy," Brian stood and kissed Buffy on the forehead. "But I'll be right back."
"Where do you think you are going?" Buffy said shifting her weight.

"No one answered when I called," Brian said heading to the door. "I'm going to drop by there for a few and check in with Edith."
"Well, if you're going to do that," Buffy walked over and straightened his shirt. "Then take a cab. Don't drive, I don't want you to have an episode, and cause a wreck, ok?"
"Ok," Brian kissed Buffy and walked out the door.

Buffy stormed downstairs, and sat down at the island in the kitchen. Xander walked in, to put away the dust pan, and saw Buffy's head on the table.
"Brian resting?" He asked closing the cabinet.

Buffy raised her head, pushing her curled hair away from her face. "No, he left."
"You mean that was him I heard walk out the door?" Buffy nodded. "Well, I figured he had gone out to get the rest of your bags."
"We only had the two," Buffy said wiping her face. "He barely walks through the door, before he turns right back around and heads back to the office."

Buffy dropped her hand on the counter and sighed. "Sometimes he can drive you to drink."

"No," Xander said leaning across the island, "that would be Spike."

Buffy glared at Xander. "Spike and I – Well – There really is no way to really explain it."
"Friends with benefits?" Xander suggested. "Which, by the way, I feel resentful towards."
"Xander!" Buffy cried. "you know that you have always been like a brother to me. I could never have done that to you."

Xander looked down at the table. "So, have you heard anything from Angel?"
Buffy looked surprised at the question. "Why do you care? You hate Angel."

"Yeah, I do," Xander admitted, looking at Buffy. "But I also know that you two always manage to find a way to talk to one another."
"We're just friends now, Xander," Buffy told him. "What's so funny?"
Xander, whose face had a large grin on it turned to Buffy.
"You really expect me to fall for that line again? You tried that years ago back in Sunnydale, after he came back from wherever it was he came from."
"Hell?"
"Yeah, that's it. Anyway, you two couldn't stay away from one another."
"But we can now."
"Why? Because you're older and wiser?"
"Yes."
Xander scoffed. "Buffy you're fooling yourself. If you haven't kissed him yet, you will."

Buffy suddenly found the speckled granite interesting.
"You already have, haven't you?" Buffy remained silent. "Oh my god!"

Xander leaned away from Buffy and folded his arms.

"How many times?"
"Is that really any of your business?" Buffy snapped. "I feel bad enough that I did it in the first place. I mean, I'm still married to Brian!"

"But you enjoyed it didn't you?"
Buffy looked at Xander. "Why? Would it make you happier if I did? God, you're acting like I'm cheating on Brian!"

"Cause you are Buffy! Even kissing someone when you're married to someone else is considered cheating! Hello!? Remember Anya?"
"Yeah, well, what happened to the supportive Xander I knew?"
"I have never supported you and Angel, get that straight now! I was right about him the whole time."
"Oh yeah? Like how?"
"Like how about he killed Ms. Calendar, tortured Giles, and almost drown Dawn!"

"That wasn't Angel!" Buffy yelled. "That was Angelus! Angel would never have hurt any of you! Just because, you still have issues about Angel, doesn't mean you get to push them on me! YOU weren't the one who drove a sword through his stomach, and sent him to spend how many centuries worth of torture! You try doing that with Anya, and see how you like it!"
Buffy pushed herself off the table, and darted for the front door. "I need some air," she said as Xander followed her to get her coat.

"Look, Buff," Xander said, sorrow in his voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like that-"
"Forget it," Buffy said as she opened the door. "I'll be back later."

"Buffy," Xander called as she slammed the door. Xander turned around and slammed his fist on the wall. "Damn it!"

888

Buffy walked and walked, with no particular destination in mind. It was late afternoon, and Buffy knew the sun would be setting soon. And the way she felt, maybe a walk through Central Park, hunting would do her some good. And warm her up too.

So Buffy made her way towards the park. She made it just as the sky became a dark grey. Buffy sighed as she walked through the gates, and quietly walked around, searching for any hidden evil lurking in the shadows. The snow on the ground made a soft crunching noise, as she stepped. Buffy silently wished it was spring, when the snow had melted and the grass was green.

I miss those days, patrolling with Angel, she thought as she stalked through the shadows. And the nerve of Xander to tell ME I made bad relationship choices? I'm not the one who almost married a demon? I mean talk about a double standard!

Buffy was jolted from her daydream by the sound of someone screaming. Buffy quickly headed towards the sound, and found a young jogger struggling against a man who had his hand around her throat.

"Hey ugly," Buffy called out making the man turn towards her. "Yeah you. Why don't you try something a little more up your alley?"
"Slayer," the man said as he dropped the jogger, and his face changed.

"Go! Run!" Buffy yelled at the jogger, who turned and ran whole heartedly away from the approaching chaos. Buffy looked back at the Vampire as he took a swing.

Buffy ducked and countered with a swift kick to the face. The vampire stumbled back, but did not fall. Instead, he gained his balance, and tried to kick Buffy. She jumped up, and ducked when the vamp tried to hit her as she landed. Buffy landed a few punches to the vamp's face and stomach before swinging around and landing a swift kick, which the vampire blocked and spun Buffy to the ground.

He pinned her down, and bent over her to bite. Buffy brought her knee up, and made contact with his groin. The vampire groaned in pain, and Buffy pushed him off of her, but not before the Vampire grabbed a hold of her coat. Thinking fast, Buffy untied her belt, and allowed the coat to peel off. She ran, and headed for a nearby tree. She leaped up, and landed on a branch. She waited as the vampire stood, and walked towards Buffy's hiding place.

When the vamp was in position, Buffy jumped from the branch. She landed square on his shoulders, and rolled to her feet. She reached for her stake, but found it was no longer there. That brief moment of panic, allowed the Vamp to regroup, and pounce on Buffy. She tried to flip him over, but he held on tight, causing her blue silk blouse to tear, cutting and exposing her arms to the cold snow. He then managed to turn Buffy over, and forced her face into the snow. Buffy began to struggle and kick, trying to get her face out of the ground.

She began to breathe in the snow, having nothing else left to breathe. Realizing what would happen next, Buffy allowed her body to become limp, lifeless. The Vampire waited a moment before he released his grip. The vampire then turned her over so her face was looking at her. He looked at her face, and leaned closer to her neck. Doing so gave Buffy the opening she was looking for. She hit him with her head, and he bounced backwards falling onto the snow.

Buffy ran to her coat, and grabbed the stake form within its pocket. She raced back, just as the vampire was trying to stand, and forced the stake through his back. After nothing but his ashes remained on the white snow, Buffy sighed in relief. However, doing so, caused Buffy to feel dizzy and disoriented. She looked to her sleeves, and saw the smears on her arms where the vampire and tree had scratched her. Feeling the cold, even more, Buffy walked over to where her coat lay. As she reached for it, Buffy grabbed her cell and flipped it open. She pressed a button and waited for an answer.

"Angel?" Buffy said, sounding very weak.

"Buffy, what's wrong? What's happened?" Angel's came through the other side worried.

"I need help. I'm in the park, but I don't know where I am."
"Hang on, Buffy. I'm coming."
"I'm so cold," Buffy said, trying to stay awake as her arms bled. "I can't keep my eyes open."
"Hang on, Buffy. Just hang on."
Buffy closed her eyes and dropped the cell. Angel heard the sound of the snow compacting as something heavy fell on it. Angel listened, as Buffy's heart rate began to slow.

"Buffy!" Angel yelled into the phone, before closing it and jumping into his car.

888

Buffy slowly opened her eyes and looked around. The room was dark, yet warm. Blood red curtains adorned the windows, and black iron work decorated the bed's frame. It was a four-poster, and reflected the old world style. Buffy realized the warmth that she felt came, not only from the blankets that were tucked around her in a cocoon, but from the large fireplace, whose hearth announced it's heat with a crackle.

Buffy tried to push herself up, but the pain in her arms made her rethink that idea, as she groaned in pain. She laid her head back down on the pillow, and tried to remember how she got here.

The last thing she remembered was fighting a vampire. She was pretty sure she won, unless she had help. Angel. She had called Angel right before she blacked out. Did Angel come and find her? Or did some other, more evil, person kidnap her and is now keeping her hostage in his lair? Granted it's a pretty lair, but she still wanted to know who had her.

The door to the room opened, and Buffy saw the back side of someone enter the room. The fire light made it kinda hard to see who what it was, but when Buffy felt her heartbeat begin to rise, she knew who it was.

"Angel," Buffy said smiling, as Angel set the tray he was carrying down on the table beside her.

"Hey," he said, brushing Buffy's face. "How are you feeling?"

Buffy tried to move, but pain hit her like a wall. "Except for the pain, I'm fine."

"Well, you're cuts are pretty bad. But at least it looks like they don't need stitches."

"That's good," Buffy smiled weakly as Angel slowly peeled back the covers.

"This is probably going to hurt a little," he said as Buffy squinted her eyes in expectation.

"Ow," Buffy cried out, as tears came to her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Buffy," Angel said, wiping a tear from her face.

"That's ok, I know you didn't mean to."

"Let's check those bandages," Angel said as he carefully cut away the gauze and tape protecting Buffy's cuts. Slowly, Angel took a look at Buffy's cuts.

Along both arms, Buffy had three, long, vertical gashes, would be a more appropriate word, and Buffy winced as fresh air hit them.

"Still tender?" Angel asked, seeing the look on Buffy's face.

"Yeah," Buffy whispered. "I didn't think they would still hurt so much."

"They were pretty deep," Angel said getting out the antiseptic. "I noticed the dark stain in the snow that must have been a vampire."
"Yep, he's dust now," replied Buffy, "But he was awfully strong."
"Do you know what he cut you with?"
"No. I only know that he tried to grab me, that's when he cut me."
"Well, he must have had really sharp claws of some kind," Angel said looking to Buffy. "You're sure you didn't see anything?"
"Well, it was kinda hard to see, while I was running for my life." Buffy gave Angel a "duh" look, as his smile graced his face.

"I'm getting ready to disinfect the wounds, so be prepared." Buffy closed her eyes, and bit her lip, as Angel poured the disinfectant over her arm.

"Oh, man, that hurts!" Buffy said through grinding teeth, as Angel took a cotton swab to her arm.

Carefully, Angel applied an ointment to her arm. "This should help it heal faster."
"I still heal fast," Buffy told Angel as he began to place new gauze to her arms.

"Yeah, but if you're going to be around Brian," Angel told her, "you need all the help you can get."

You just had to spoil my fun, did you? Buffy thought to herself, even though she wanted to. Instead, she just kept silent.
"Did I say something wrong?" Angel noticed Buffy's quick and sudden stiffness, at the sound of Brian's name.

"No, you didn't say anything wrong," Buffy said staring at the fire. "It's just me."
"What do you mean?" Angel began to rewrap Buffy's arm. "Did you have a fight with Brian?"
"More like Xander," Buffy hated storming out of the house, but he had given her no choice.

Angel took a deep breath, before asking, "What did he say to you this time?"
"Oh, the usual," Buffy huffed, "That my taste in men tend to suck. That you and I can never be friends. That I'm cheating on Brian with you."
Angel shook his head. "That boy never did learn to keep his nose clean did he?"
"Hey!" Buffy snapped at Angel. " You don't go there either! Xander has been there when you couldn't."
"You had to remind me," Angel said without thinking.

"Xander is my friend," Buffy said calmly. " He wouldn't have said those things to me if he believed different. I do have to say, he was right about one thing."
"What's that?" Angel resumed his nursing as Buffy continued.
"I have been cheating on Brian. We have been cheating on Brian."

Angel looked at Buffy. In her eyes he saw that she believed what she said. And to be honest, Angel felt that she was right as well. He had to come clean.

"You mean because we kissed?"
"Uh, yeah! Care to do a head count? I mean, once was fine. For old times sake. I get that. But, we've kissed how many times now? Four? Five?"
"Six."

"You're keeping score?" Buffy looked at Angel who didn't respond. "God, this is worse than I thought."
"Why do you say that?" Angel looked at Buffy.

"Because, every time we kiss, it's cheating on Brian. Yeah, he said I could lean on you for emotional support, but that's not the point."
"Then what is the point?" Angel questioned.

"The point is, that we have got to stop. Before we end up in bed together."
"Is that what you're afraid of?" Angel asked as he wiped the wounds with the antiseptic.

"Ah, Yeah." Buffy said, caught off guard. "Kinda. I'm still kinda leery of Angelus."
Angel smirked. "Yeah, me too."
"You?" Buffy said as she touched her re-bandaged arm. "Do you even remember anything about that night?"

"Yeah, I remember," Angel said. "It all kinda became cloudy after I went to…"
Angel didn't finish the sentence, and Buffy didn't need him to. She knew what he was saying. Before I sent him to hell, she thought.

Buffy knew it was dangerous to ask, but her curiosity and her womanly pride got the better of her.

"What was it like for you?" Angel stopped in his tracks, as he was making his way back to the bedside table.

"You really want to know?" He knew the answer before he asked the question, but to ask it anyway, just to be sure. Buffy's eyes told him the answer.

"It was worth losing my soul for," he told her. "And if I had to do it over-"
"You wouldn't have," Buffy interrupted. Angel set down the medical supplies and kneeled at Buffy's side, taking her hand in his.

"If you knew that you would end up setting Angelus free, just by being with me, would you have done it ?"

Buffy hesitated. That was something she really had to think about. She had lost so much at Angelus' hands, as well her own recklessness. Ms. Calendar, her sanity, Giles' abduction. The question should have been "would you want to be mentally tortured by a psychotic version of your boyfriend for six months?"

Buffy opened her mouth to answer.

End Chapter

Yeah I know, i know! I done did it again! (And I refrained using the Britney stereotype)

But I already know the answer! (evil grins) And you will too, just Read & Review!!!

Feedback is GREATLY appreciated! It feeds my ideas!! LOL

Mackenzie Creations: Thank you for the late night on this one! Your input meant A LOT especailly btwn B/X!

On a more somber note; I have one chapter that I am almost done with (cause I don't want to leave you guys hanging!), but after that, it may take me awhile before I post. My sister has gone back into the hospital, and I don't know yet what's going on. So keep her in your prayers, and i will try to update as often as I can. Thankx! Emma