Chapter Twenty-Three

Brian walked up the steps to Dr. Preston's office. He was actually feeling pretty good about this visit. The new meds Dr. Preston put him on, had been doing their thing. Brian could feel a bounce return to his step. He had the energy to take on more at work, and he had just received confirmation yesterday, on the final plans for the new Sunnydale Town Hall. The new mayor was thrilled with the plans, and had asked Brian to begin designs for a new Sunnydale High.

Brian walked into the office, signed in, and sat down in the waiting room. He picked up a copy of Architectural Digest, and read an article about a New York designer. Brian scanned the pages, looking at the pictures in the magazine.

"Mr. Kelly?" a nurse called out as she stepped in from the back.

"Yes," Brian said, closing the magazine and followed the nurse towards a waiting room. The nurse opened a door, and motioned for Brian to step inside.

"If you will just have a seat in here, Dr. Preston will be with you in just a few minutes."
"Thank you," Brian said as the nurse closed the door. Brian took off his coat, and sat down on the examination bed. After a few minutes, Dr. Preston walked in, clipboard in hand.

"Morning, Dr. Preston," Brian said as Dr. Preston walked in.

"Good Morning, Mr. Kelly," Dr. Preston said, exchanging hands with Brian. "How are we feeling today?"

"Pretty good," Brian said as Dr. Preston listened to his chest.

"You're lungs sound good," the doctor said as he made a note in Brian's file.

"I can definitely feel a difference in my breathing."
"No headaches, dizziness, fatigue?"
"Nope, nada, zilch."

"What about E.D?"
"Everything checks out." Brian chuckled at the doctors attempt to ask about his sex life. Dr. Preston made some more notes and pulled up a stool.

"Well, the results came back from the blood samples we took last visit, as well as the CAT Scan I ordered."

"And what is the prognosis?" Brian was suddenly feeling nervous. What if the results were positive? What if all his good feelings and energy were just temporary? Brian took a deep breath, to calm himself.

"Quite surprising, to tell you the truth," Dr. Preston said as he looked over the results. "Your blood count is high, there doesn't appear to be any air way constriction, and the scan shows no abnormalities in the lung tissue."
"So what? Does that mean I'm cured?" Brian was almost too scared to hope.

"I would not go so far as to say that, Mr. Kelly," Dr. Preston warned. "That's not to say that it isn't a possibility, but I am cautiously optimistic about the fact that you could be in remission."
"Are you serious?" Brian asked Dr. Preston.

Dr. Preston smiled as he stood from his seat.

"Very serious, Mr. Kelly." Brian took his doctor's hand, before engulfing him in a huge hug.

"Thank you," Brian said to the doctor.

"You're welcome," Dr. Preston said. "Now you go home, and tell that pretty wife of yours. Doctor's orders."
Brian laughed with his doctor at the joke.

"Yes doctor," Brian said.

"Good. And I will see you next month, just to be sure."
"Okay", Brain said as he put on his coat. He smiled to himself as he set the appointment with the secretary. Buffy's going to be so happy, he thought as he whistled a jaunty tune on his way out the door.

888

Brian drove down the street, singing along with the radio. He had just come from placing a reservation at Buffy's favorite Italian restaurant. Brian was practically giddy with joy. He was in remission!!! Buffy would be beside herself with happiness. And when Dawn came home for the summer, he would be cancer free for months! They would have to have a BBQ to celebrate. Willow, Giles, Xander, Dawn, Buffy, and now Angel. Brian snapped his fingers.

He had almost forgotten that fact that Buffy would be working Angel today. Brian still did not quite catch on that Buffy was a Slayer, and it was even more hard to swallow that Angel had once been a card carrying member of the walking dead. But he was adjusting. Brian turned on his blinker, and merged into the lane that led to Angel's office.

Brian knocked on Angel's door, which stood open. Masking tape was holding up the clear plastic, covering the window that was broken several days earlier by a demon. Angel sat at his desk, pouring over paper that lay strewn over the top. Angel lifted his head, when he heard Brian's knock.

"Hey, Brian," Angel said to Brian as he walked into the room. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if I could take Buffy home early?"
"Sure, why?" Angel asked as he gathered his papers.

"Well, you have promise not to tell Buffy, but I just came from the doctor's, and he said the cancer is in remission!"
"That's great news!" Angel gave his new friend a big hug.

"What's great news?" Buffy's voice said walking into Angel's office.

Angel looked at Brian, who looked at Buffy, a large smile playing across his face.

"Buffy honey, I'm in remission." It took a minute for Buffy to realize what her husband had just said.

"You mean, the cancer is gone?" Brian nodded. Buffy's heart leapt for joy. Brian was cured! Brian was going to live! Buffy smiled wide, and leaped into her husband's arms, squeals of laughter and joy, following behind her.

"Oh my god, Brian!" She said as Brian spun her around. "Is this really happening?"

Buffy feared she was dreaming. 'It's real," Brian said as he looked at Angel.
"Angel here has allowed me to take you home early, so we can celebrate."

Buffy looked to Angel and gave him a large hug as well.

"Congratulations, Buffy." Angel whispered as held her tightly in his arms. "You deserve this."
Buffy kissed Angel on the cheek and walked out the door with her husband, to celebrate Brian's clean bill of health.

What no one noticed however, was that the former Vampire with a Soul watched as Buffy walked further out of his life, and further out of his reach. Yes, she would still love him, but now that Brian had recovered, she would probably return to her normal life. Angel had become friends with Brian and did not wish him dead. But Angel had thought this was finally their chance to be together, and with Brian's health improving, that dream had to be shelved.

Angel watched the love of his life walk out the door, and ignoring the tears in his own eyes, walked back to his desk and pulled Persuasion from one of the drawers.

888

Buffy sat in the passenger seat of Brian's Range Rover, smiling as she watched her husband drive. These past few months and been like a hell. Buffy had already been down the cancerous road of no return with her mother. Buffy was glad she could finally see the other side of the tunnel. It was not just a light, but she could see the brick outline of the tunnel itself.

Brian was in remission, and although there were still years to go before he would be truly cancer free, Buffy was in a happy place. Brian had told her that they were going to go home and change before going out for the evening. Buffy was giddy with excitement as Brian tried to keep their destination a secret.

"Brian, honey, why won't you tell me where we are going?" Buffy's voice dripped with sugar.

Brian chuckled, "No, sweetie! I want it to be a surprise!"
Buffy leaned back in her seat and began to pour like scolded child. Brian shook his head.

"Shame on you, Buffy," he pretended to shake his finger at Buffy. "You should know better than to try any tricks on me. Pouting or puppy dog eyes won't do you any good."
"Not fair," Buffy said as she folded her arms. "You know me too well."
"It's my job."
"Come on, tell me," Buffy pleaded.

"I'm not telling."
"Please, Brian," Buffy whined holding Brian's arm. " I promise I'll act surprised."

Brian chuckled as he listened to Buffy's pleadings. Finally, Brian relented.

"Okay, if I tell you, you have to promise not to tell anyone that I told you before we got there. Understand?"
"I swear," Buffy sat up in the seat as Brian stopped at the light, and raised her hand. "Slayer's word."
"Is there really such a thing?"
"No, but if it makes you feel better, then yeah." Buffy smiled.

"Okay, I thought I would take you to your favorite restaurant." Brian looked Buffy in the eye.

"Giovanni's?" Brian nodded. "Oh, Brian!"

"I thought we would celebrate with a pre-Honeymoon dinner."
"Did you say Honeymoon?" Again Brian nodded.

"Yep, I think the time has come to revisit Italy." Buffy squealed in delight.

"Oh, to be back in Roma," Buffy said dramatically.

Brian laughed. He looked to his wife as the light changed, and he pulled into the intersection. Buffy returned his gaze. Then, Buffy's eyes went wide as she looked past Brian, to the large Semi that was coming from nowhere. All thoughts, left her mind as she yelled, "Brian!"

Brian turned to look in Buffy's direction, and turned the wheel to avoid the collision. But it was too late, as the windows shattered and Buffy screamed.

888

Angel had fallen asleep reading Persuasion. He had his socked feet on the corner of his desk, a pillow under them to protect the 200 year old piece of furniture. The book lay open across his chest his head leaned back in the chair. The phone rang, and the book and pillow went flying as Angel flew up from his seat in a fighting stance.

Angel glanced down, as the phone rang again. He relaxed, sat down and rubbed his face before answering the phone.

"Angel Investigations," he answered. "Yes, this is Angel."

Angel listened as the voice asked him questions about Buffy.

"Yeah, I know her. I'm her employer." The voice asked more questions, as Angel sat on the edge of his seat, a pained look on his face.

"As anyone contacted her family, or friends?" Angel asked the ER Nurse. "Alright. No, no it's okay. I'll call them. Thank you nurse."

Angel hung up the phone and hung his head. Buffy had been in traffic accident and was seriously injured. Angel knew that Brian was driving, and he was probably worse than she was.

Angel took a deep breath, and picked up the phone. It rang and Xander picked up.

"Yeah," he answered.

"Xander, it's me, Angel."
"What's up?" Xander could tell something was off in Angel's voice.

"Um, it's Buffy." Angel was trying to hold his temper in check until after he had told Xander.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Now Xander knew something was wrong. Buffy was supposed to be working with Angel, and now he was calling her house. That could only mean one thing. Buffy was hurt.

"Uh, I- I don't know how to say this, but um, Buffy and Brian were in an accident."
"What kind of accident?"
"I don't know yet. All I know is they found my card on Buffy and called me looking for family. You need to get up to the hospital, and call Willow."
"Yeah, man I'm on it." Xander said as the tone in Angel's voice told him that things did not sound good.

"Good, I'll be there soon."
They exchanged goodbye's and hung up. Xander grabbed the keys to his Taurus, and Angel jumped into his GTX, and they each headed towards the hospital.

They arrived at the same time, although Xander was farther away. Angel asked as they walked through the sliding doors.

"What did you do, Speed?"
"Yeah kinda," Xander said walking up to the desk. " But I think I lost the cops."
Angel smirked and laughed inside, at Xander. Angel was glad Xander was there to lighten the mood.

"We're here to see Buffy and Brian Kelly," Xander told the triage nurse, and she led the two men into the ER, and showed them to ICU.

The nurse pulled back a curtain, and the color drained from both men's faces. Lying there, side by side, were Buffy and Brian. Their faces revealed shock and pain as they realized the amount of damage that they had sustained. Their red, puffy faces, also showed cuts, bruises and small burns. But the hardest part to swallow was that both them were on respirators.

Angel and Xander walked over to Buffy who looked better than Brian overall. But that was due to her Slayer healing. Each one grabbed a hand, and Angel cupped Buffy's cheek.

"Do you know what caused the accident?" Xander asked the nurse.

"All I know is what the EMT's told me. And was that they had been hit by a semi." The nurse answered.

Angel squeezed his eyes tightly as he imagined the looks on their faces as they saw a large metal grill barreling towards them.
"What's their condition," Angel asked.

"He's critical, but stable," the nurse said. "He has some pretty bad injuries and he lost a lot of blood. The woman has sustained many of the same injures, only her blood count is still normal. She appears to be healing fast though."

Thank god she's a Slayer, Angel thought.

Xander walked over to Brian and took a look at his injuries.

Brian looked like he had been thrown around like a rag doll. Xander had no super powers, but he himself has sustained enough broken bones living on the Hellmouth, that he could spot them easily. And Brian had several. Xander checked his collar bone for any breaks, and came across something that made his blood boil, and run cold at the same time.

"Hey Angel," Xander called from the other bed, "Come here. I think I found something you should see."
Angel gently placed Buffy's hand back on the bed, and walked over to stand beside Xander.

"Take a look," Xander said pissed. Angel leaned over and pushed back the cords that were keeping Brian alive.

"Well," Angel said, as he felt his human blood begin to boil to a point where he was glad he didn't change anymore. "We can rule out accident."

There, on the side of Brian's neck were two, good sized puncture holes.

End Chapter

A/N: So? What did you think? I'm working on the follow up to this one, so I won't leave you in suspense for long! LOL Just know that a mad Angel is NEVER a good thing! LOL

FEEDBACK IS A MUST! LOL Read & Review and tell me what you think! Updating soon!